So, here is my vision, what I hope to see with my own eyes, and hear with my own ears, and sooner rather than later. I am not in the least opposed to the miraculous, especially the gifts of the Spirit. After all, they are promised to us in the Bible. And I have seen genuine healings and the like over the last half-century, but also, plenty of charlatans and false prophets, always accompanied by self-promotion and lots of noise.
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| [Photo by Kyle Popineau on Unsplash] |
But the day is coming when an unassuming man will walk into a room where someone is gravely ill, even dead. He will be properly attired – dress slacks, matching shoes, necktie, sport coat, hair combed, and his dress shirt tucked in. Nothing fancy or expensive, just appropriate. There will be no preliminaries - No fanfare, no noise, no hoopla, no light show.
If this man has received a vision, a visitation by angels, or taken a trip to the “third heaven,” he will not talk about it, THAT is NOT important. No, straightaway, he will approach the person in distress, say little to nothing, probably lay hands on him or her, though only briefly, and say a short and probably quiet prayer. Then the suffering individual will be restored, and immediately so, whether healed or raised from the dead. No "glory clouds," twirling of flags, or blaring loud music. It will just happen, end of story.
If the gentleman takes the opportunity to speak, he will point to Jesus – To the same Jesus found on the pages of the New Testament, and to him alone, to CHRIST CRUCIFIED, the genuine “power and wisdom of God.” And he will summon all those present to emulate THAT Jesus.
That gentleman knows his “assignment” already, his purpose and “personal destiny,” which is the same for all believers – To take up his cross daily and follow him; to proclaim the good news about the Kingdom of God to all nations, beginning with his immediate audience. Who is this gentleman I envision? What is his name, his “office,” his web address, his email? None of that matters. He is no more than an "unprofitable slave" who has done his duty. What counts is the one who, so often, is lost in all the pandemonium of a contemporary church service - Jesus.