Wanna ride?

Once having laid ourselves upon the Corner Stone of Christ and his work, what is next? It isn’t enough to be dogmatic about the foundation of our faith. We’ve got to LIVE that faith. We are to be built together to be a living temple of living stones (1 Pet 2:4).

Recently the Lord keeps bringing back a vision that I had last summer. I had been contemplating horses because I’d had several horse dreams and knew that they represented self-effort, personal striving, the sweaty work of human flesh. Suddenly I saw myself wrestling with a big brown horse. It had a bit and bridle on and I thought that it was trained, but it was not doing anything I wanted. I was trying to get on it to ride but I could not control it or accomplish anything by trying to tame it. I was getting really frustrated. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw the foot of another animal step into my frame of reference. It was not a horse’s hoof. It was a paw. A huge, golden-colored paw. I guess I let go of the horse and looking up, found myself face-to-chest with a gigantic lion. I could see the straps of a halter or some kind of riding gear buckled across his chest. Instinctively I knew WHO it was and involuntarily fell on my face in the presence and sight of the majesty that surrounded him. After a few moments I sheepishly looked up and asked “May I ride you?” I just wanted to ride! He shook his mane and somehow caused me to stand to my feet. As I stood up, a black, disgusting mass fell off of me. It lay on the ground beside me in a puddle shaped like a person. I was embarrassed that I had even asked to get near him with all that sin and filth attached. He said nothing but I saw his head bend down and his mouth move toward the black shadow. Then his pink tongue stuck out and he began to lap it up. My stomach literally turned and I became sick, because I knew what was in that disgusting, rotten mess. But here he was licking it all up, taking it into himself! It was his will to take all of the filth away from me, so that I could go with him.

The vision ended and I had a couple days to digest the impact of seeing the King of Glory literally “eat” the poison of my sin. I could hardly do anything but weep. Finally I sat down, and basically said, Okay, God, what next? What is living like now? May I ride you? How?

I saw myself climbing upon the back of that lion, but as soon as I got on his back, I disappeared down inside of him, and he began to fly. Going with him was like becoming one with the wind. The molecules of our individual beings came undone and wrapped around each other. [As I type this now, I realize it is actually similar to JoAnn McFatter’s description of a quantum physics explanation of the intertwining of the spiritual and physical realms. (I may get into this later, for now read The Elijah List April 2, 2010 posting)].

There is an aspect of reality to this concept that in our understanding we can never grasp. Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us.” (Jn 17:21). I think that by training our thoughts upon the finished work of Christ and all of its outcome, we become more and more embedded in Him and are able to move with Him rather than standing around wrestling with wild horses. We cannot tame our flesh. We can fall at his majesty and holiness, give our shame and striving to him, and become one with the Living God.

Francis Frangipane says “Let’s settle this truth once and for all: It is the nearness of God that produces our good. Christianity was never designed by God to be sustained by nice people trying to appear good. We’re not that good. We’re not that clever. And we’re not that nice. The only thing that can sustain true Christianity is true union with Jesus Christ. It is nearness to Him in all things that produces our spiritual fruit. … Therefore the strength of our walk does not originate from within ourselves; rather it comes from our relationship with Christ. Our virtue, if it can be defined as such, is that we have learned to prioritize seeking God and developing our oneness with Him. By this I mean, Jesus is not only first on our list of priorities; his influence rules over all our priorities. He inspires love in our relationships; His voice becomes the conviction in our integrity. God has made ‘Christ Jesus’ to be to us ‘wisdom … and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption’ (I Cor 1:30).”