When I first became aware of my surroundings, I was standing
on the second deck of a huge aircraft, soaring into the heavens. Unlike any
aircraft I was aware of, this one had a huge bank of windows across the bow
that allowed you to look forward over the nose of the aircraft and to the skies
beyond. As I turned from the breathtaking view through these windows, I was
startled by a certain “knowing” that this was my aircraft—It belonged to me. How
could this be? I wondered.
Walking through the plane with this strange sense of
ownership, I discovered beautiful, elegantly furnished rooms throughout the
aircraft where people were engaged in various activities. There was a dining
room, a computer room, a library, and what appeared to be a medical clinic. I
descended the spacious, spiral staircase to explore the lower deck. There I
discovered a playroom for children and another furnished with comfortable
recliners. There was also a chapel here, inviting with its soft music playing
and beautiful replicas of stained glass windows seen through a gentle glow of
light.
As I checked out each room, people greeted me as if they
recognized that I was “in charge”. I was in awe, not only because of what I was
seeing, but also because of the growing conviction that this amazing aircraft
belonged to me. During my “discovery” tour, the aircraft landed and took off
several times, each time taking my breath in its display of power that took us
soaring into the heavens. When we landed, some people would deplane while
others boarded.
During one such landing, I decided to find out who was
piloting this extraordinary aircraft that was evidently mine. I walked forward
to the open cockpit and, standing behind the pilot’s seat, I saw no one
occupying that strategic position. I turned to look out the window and saw an airport official glaring at me. In
a surly, challenging voice he radioed in: “Who do you think you are? You can’t
fly this aircraft! You couldn’t even back it onto the tarmac!” Incensed, and
armed with my new sense of ownership and authority, I reacted to the taunt by
“taking the controls”, determined to prove I could do just that.
In the dream, though I experienced all that emotion, I saw a
“man” take the controls and begin backing up the aircraft. As he did, sure
enough, we started to tilt to the left side. Still clutching the back of the
pilot’s seat, I heard a terrible, grinding, crashing sound as we began to roll
to the left. I saw and felt dirt began to mix with the crumbling body of this
magnificent aircraft….and I awoke abruptly.
Sensing that this was a spiritual dream, I asked the Lord what
it meant. First, I wanted to know why I had been given a 747 aircraft. In my
spirit I heard, “No, an Air Bus.” I immediately thought, so this is a spiritual dream. Totally unfamiliar with the term “Air Bus”, I went to my
computer and googled it. To my
amazement, I retrieved beautiful photos of a corporate A380 Air Bus, complete
with two decks and configured with elegantly furnished rooms, much as I had
seen in the dream. I cannot describe my surprise, since I had no idea such an
aircraft existed.
Listening intently now, I heard the Lord say, “Your Air Bus
is a parable of your life in Christ. You may call it “Charity.” I
began to understand that the love of God would enable me to rise above my
circumstances and soar in the heavens in
Christ, lifting myself as well as others out of the limiting and
sometimes destructive circumstances of earth. I remembered the scriptures that
declare:
For He (Christ) raised us from the dead along with Christ,
and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms—all because we are one with
Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:6NLT
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set
your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand
in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts.
Colossians 3:1-2NLT
For months I had been praying the prayers of the psalmist
for God’s divine “lifting up” above my enemies to walk in newness of life (Ps.
27:5-6, Ps. 30:1-3). As I continued to pray about this dramatic dream, I
understood that the power of God’s love would lift me out of my narrow, hurtful
circumstances supernaturally, safely, enabling me to soar through the heavens
and fulfill God’s purposes for my life.
Then He said, “My divine love flowing through you will
enable you to rescue people and help them to fulfill their destiny.” I
understood that soaring in the heavens involved realizing the mystery of
“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
As I contemplated this new sense of spiritual reality and
authority in Christ, suddenly I remembered the crash at the end of the dream
that had awakened me. I asked with some angst: “What made my Air Bus crash? How
is that even possible if it represents Your divine love? And who was the man in
the cockpit that took control?
His answer was profound in its simplicity. “That man in the
cockpit was your ‘natural man’ who determined to vindicate you in the face of
ridicule. That taunting airport official is right: You cannot fly “Charity” in
your natural ability or strength. Remember, “Without Me you can do nothing”
(Jn. 15:5).
During the months since being given this dream, which I
understand as a modern parable for life in Christ, it has had a dramatic effect
on my prayer life and my relationships with people. Aware of the supernatural
mission of “Charity”, my life in Christ, I see people with new eyes and respond
to them differently. Sometimes through prayer, sometimes in an act of kindness
or with a simple smile, I welcome them “aboard” to experience Christ’s love
flowing through me.
I picture some of them being carried to the room that offers
“medical” treatment for deep wounds to their body, soul and spirit; others to
the chapel where they receive the divine comfort they need; still others to the
computer room for delightful biblical studies that bring revelation to their
souls.
It is perhaps the children who fill me with greatest
tenderness as I see some, so young and innocent, abused by parents and others,
whose faces light up as they enter the playroom just for them; then they throw
themselves into my arms, seemingly saying thank you for the love and security
they feel at last. Some older people just need to enjoy the comfort of being
with someone who loves them, to talk and laugh—and remember. And there are
those who desperately need someone to fulfill the biblical injunction to “look
after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God”
(Heb. 12:15NLT). I revel in Christ’s love as I watch with what great tenderness
He rescues every person, young and old, from hurtful, sometimes devastating
situations.
Since the dream, I have studied every verse of scripture
that contains the phrase “in Christ” as well as others that relate to this
liberating and empowering spiritual reality. I have also become more aware of
the danger of giving in to my “natural man” that does not exhibit the love of
Christ. As I study the biblical exhortations to “put off the old man” (Eph.
4:22), my eyes have been opened to ways in which I can be free from its effects
and keep from “crashing” the beautiful aircraft I have been given that allows
the love of God to flow through my life.
In this devotional journey, I want to share with you in subsequent blog posts my study of some of
the heavenly promises that offer all believers a wonderful “lifting up” to soar over life's problems. As we learn to take our rightful position “in Christ” we can experience new
realms of the divine love of Christ for ourselves as well as for others and enter into the mystery of “Christ
in you, the hope of glory”.
I welcome your responses as we enjoy the journey together. Blessings.
