A few months ago I had a dream about losing my oldest son in a crowded store. I literally recall feeling panicked in the dream as I scanned the store trying to find a clue as to where he went. Before I could make contact with him, the dream was over. Just like that, I was left feeling so empty and alone.
During the first few minutes of waking up, I had to tell myself it was just a dream. I couldn’t help my mind from wandering back to the place where I lost my son. It was agonizing. Why would I have a dream like that? Was this a dream of a warning? Was I going to lose my son in some crowded space? So many questions flooded my mind.
Disturbed on my drive into work, I reflected on the dream again. I asked God to settle my mind and reveal the purpose of the dream. I still heard nothing. I went to work and went on with my day.
Later that week, I was reminded of the dream again, but differently. The thought came to mind when Jesus was on the cross he said, “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” At that moment, Christ was separated from his father because he took on the sins of this world. God is a God without sin. He is righteous and he is blameless. His son, Jesus Christ died on the cross for us so that we can have access to Salvation. Christ became sin and was therefore separated from His father. I suddenly understood the purpose of the dream. The dream was less about me losing my son literally, but more about what happens when something gets between our relationship with Christ. When we allow something to come between our relationship with Christ, we are separated from him. I believe that he feels the way I felt during the dream when we are separated from him. He’s able to sense when we have moved away from his presence. Yet, he beckons for us to come back to him. He waits on us and agonizes over us.
Matthew 18:12-14 says: “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
No matter what we have done or what we are going through, God wants us to come back to him. He is a good Father whose love for us is incomprehensible. Hebrews 12:1 says: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Examine yourself by taking an inward look at your heart to seek why you may feel disconnected from God:
- Examine yourself – Take time to quiet yourself in prayer. Allow God to show you those areas where change is necessary and repent. God will forgive you.
- Examine your relationships – Take time to think about those who have access to you. Are your relationships healthy? Are your relationships helping you to move closer to God or are they taking you in the opposite direction?
- Examine your faith – Are you growing in the Lord? Are you fulfilling your purpose in Him? Do you feel as though life is passing you by? What areas do you need to improve in?
There is nothing more important than our walk with Christ. Romans 8:35-39 says:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When we become separated from Christ, there is no question that we are lost without him. Return to him. He’s waiting with open arms to restore what’s been lost. Let nothing ever come between your love and devotion to him.
goinginward 