At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
“To you, O people, I call out, I raise my voice to all mankind.” Proverbs 8:1-4
I have friends who are proclaimed Atheists. Their skepticism comes from the fact that the Bible was written by man and therefore has no credibility. I would like to ask them if Shakespeare’s plays or Robert Frost’s poems or any other author who has impacted the world by their words have credibility? What has been written, that was not written by man? Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon, just to name a few, were wise people who listened to God and had the foresight and the courage to scribe His words, to be preserved for generations to come.
“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” 1 Chronicles 28:19
In 2010 I developed a deep sense of responsibility to proclaim the truth that was revealed to me in many different ways. My husband and I traveled to the Mediterranean and made a special effort to explore the ruins of the apostle John's basilica. Shortly thereafter, I began an intense study of Revelation, a book written by John during the last days of his life while in exile on the Greek island of Patmos. The select council of women with whom I was studying were, in my eyes, spiritual giants. Yet, when it came time to dig beneath the surface of the metaphors, to find the ruins, they chose to stay shallow, fearing what they might find. Later that year I joined a group called called “moms-in-touch” who gathered periodically to pray for our high school aged children. Upon my late arrival to one of our gatherings, it appeared I was the only mom to show up. Contemplating leaving before knocking on the door, it suddenly opened and the host graciously invited me in as though she had been expecting only me. She sat me down and asked if God had been revealing anything to me. Startled by her directness, I knew this was not going to be an ordinary meeting. So I asked her to read aloud a passage of scripture that had been pressing on my heart. It was from the Second book of John … a letter, which starts off with this greeting:
“To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth ~ and not I only, but also all who know the truth.”
John ends the letter by saying this … “I have much to write to you but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you face to face so that our joy may be complete.” 2 John 1:12
Instead of paper and ink? … That same year I started working with my ordinary, “special” needs friends who taught me more than any book ever could. They allowed me to “see” the truth, face to face.
In the Lego movie, Emmet, the Special, is accused of never having an original thought and therefore could never be a Master Builder. Vitruvius states that Master Builders spend years training themselves to clear their minds in order to get "even a fleeting glimpse of the Man Upstairs." It turns out that Emmet’s mind was “so prodigiously empty” that he was perfectly suited to become a Master Builder! I love that concept ...you must clear your mind in order to listen. Is it coincidence that the words "listen" and "silent" have the same letters?
It is through our words that we explain our minds. So if the “Man Upstairs” (the Father) wanted to reveal His mind to the world, what better way to do it than through a person, who comes face to face with the world? And would not the Father also inspire his greatest followers to write "His story?" (i.e. "history" another coincidence?) We are privy to this amazing story that was created long before it was ever written by man. It’s ending cannot be altered because it has already been written. And it is all there for us to read and come true before our eyes!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1Through Him, all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
It has taken me since 2010 to write down my thoughts, as my friend suggested to me that day. I am at that highest point where the paths meet, ready to shout to all mankind. I can’t wait to go through the open gate that leads to the city. With the help of my special, ordinary friends, like Emmet, I hope to reveal the rest of the story to those who dare to dig below the surface and face the truth.