When God Speaks

A heathen philosopher once asked a Christian, 'Where is God'? The Christian answered, 'Let me first ask you, Where is He not?'
Aaron Arrowsmith

About six months after my grandfather passed away, I had a dream.  In this dream, I was in front of a closed door - the door to my grandfather's hospital room.  I opened the door and walked into the room.  The room was devoid of everything except my grandfather lying in his hospital bed with a white bedspread covering him to his chest.  His arms were outstretched on either side of him and Jesus was standing beside his bed.  My grandfather appeared to be sleeping but I instinctively knew he wasn't.  Jesus looked straight at me and said "It's too late for your grandfather but it's not too late for you.  Salvation is not a joke.  It's real."  Just like that, the dream was over.


That was 34 years ago and while some unimportant parts of the dream may have become fuzzy with time (were Grandpa's arms covered or out from under the covers?), every word spoken by Jesus has stayed crystal clear in my mind.  I spent a lot of time worrying about that "too late for your grandfather" part even though I know my grandfather was a born-again Christian man whose last moments on earth were spent in prayer.  I don't think the point of those five words were as important as the next seven:  "but it's not too late for you".


There has never been a doubt in my mind that I was in receipt of a Divine warning - not a warning such as a threat but more like a warning that is intended to keep you safe. The best thing I can think of with which to compare this "Divine warning" would be in the same context a parent "warns" a child to look both ways before crossing the street or to never get in a car with strangers.  It came from the purest and most profound love imaginable.


I've always known that I was supposed to tell people about my dream but never spoke of it until a few years ago when I felt the urge to tell a very small group of acquaintances. Even then, I didn't tell them everything.  I wasn't sure what was holding me back.  Maybe I just wasn't ready.  I don't know.  Whatever it was, the need for me to 'go public', if you will, is stronger than whatever kept me quiet.


I have no idea how many people read my blog - if ANYONE reads it, actually - but I know deep inside that someone somewhere needs to read this one and that God will lead whoever they may be to this entry.


Finally, I believe that God talks to all of us when we need it. I leave you with one question:  What do you do when God speaks to you?