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The Echo
As a man stood upon the top of the mountain, something inside of him made him shout with all his might into the valley, "Oh Lord." A few seconds later, he heard the faint echo, "Lord." So he mustered up an even louder voice and shouted, "What have I done, Lord." A few seconds later, again he heard the faint echo, "Lord." At that moment, he decided to leave and continue down the mountain. On his journey, he began noticing more of God's wonders; the trees, the animals, the vegetation, and the flowers. Sure, he had seen them many times before but there was something more vibrant and real about them this time. He continued walking. Then he began hearing the crackling of the leaves under his feet as he walked. Around the next corner, the man happened upon a cavern. At the entrance, he could only see a few feet inside and didn't have any source of light to see what was further. So like any other man, he shouted, "HEY!" A second later he heard his echo saying, "HEY ... HEY ... HEY ... HEY." He pondered for a moment. What was the difference between the mountain top echo and the cavern echo? Could it be the location? Could it be physical properties of the cavern such as the walls, it's smaller size?
Then the man began thinking about his life, the mistakes he had made, the reason why he went on this journey to the mountain top and what had brought him to this particular place in time. This angered the man and he shouted into the cavern, "Why didn't you stop me? Why can't I stop this? FORGIVE ME JESUS" His echo came back, "JESUS ... JESUS ... JESUS ... JESUS ... JESUS ..." He sat at the entrance and sobbed. When he finished, he wiped the tears from his eyes and just sat there. In the distance, he heard the faint chirp of a bird calling to it's mate. And into his other ear, he heard the reply of another bird. The man looked hard to see the birds but try as he might, he couldn't see them. Right then, his mind and heart went silent.
Then he heard a voice; one he knew but couldn't recognize. But it wasn't coming from the forest. He looked toward the cavern and it wasn't coming from there either but the voice continued on:
"My son. Up on the mountain top, you called for me. But all you could hear was the echo of what I have placed upon this earth. Before you I placed evidence of all of my glory. I made the trees, the mountains, the valley, and I made you. But you turned away and left the mountain top. So I opened your heart to see me, and you did, but failed to stop and kept on walking. So I brought you to this cavern. And into the cavern, you first shouted from your flesh and I answered you. Yes, that was My voice within the echo. This time I got your attention. You opened your heart and mind to hear My voice. This angered you and you yelled into the cavern again. And four times, I answered you with My name. The last you strained to hear, but you did.
I love you my son. I will never leave you nor forsake you. And I forgive you. Those things that trouble you are not of me but are of this world. I gave you the ability to choose between my ways, and the ways of your flesh. My Word will never change. It is the same as it was in the beginning as it will be in the end. It is written, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Valiant Men of God, those of you who fall to the temptation of sin are given a choice: Jesus' way or yours. To Him, sin is sin sin. There are no levels. However, all can be redeemed through your heart asking Jesus for forgiveness. Take a moment and listen for His voice. For me, it's usually just an intimate whisper that I sometimes have to strain to hear; at other times it quite loud and commanding. For others, He'll speak firmly, and yet others He'll raise His voice all the time just to get your attention. But always, He'll speak to you when you open your heart to listen.
This morning as I just sat in silence, a picture became vivid in my mind and I began to write it down. It was of the man on the mountain top above. Not quite certain if it's actual or symbolic of a particular situation. However, as I finished with the sentence, "Right then, his mind and heart went silent," my heart was opened to hear from God and He gave me the words in blue for one of you. It ministered to me as well as it has been three weeks since the last Nugget has been sent out. Normally, God's Words would have been placed in a voice-over but the recording program has been giving me technical difficulties
Until next time, keep
your eyes on Jesus !
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