Brave Light - Carriers Part One
Recently, I had a dream that I will never forget. It both flooded me with peace and called me to battle. Now, to be clear here, I rarely have dreams, and when I do they are usually quite a hodge-podge of “what in the world” was that. But twice in my life I’ve had dreams that “spoke”. I share the dream with you here because I sense in my heart that maybe it can encourage you in a God-honoring way — to recognize the battlefield in front of us, clean out the corners where hidden things lurk, waiting to cause harm, — and be brave beside those who are brave in Jesus.
I was at a beautiful lodge with massive windows. Many people were there with me, none that I knew. Yet, in the dream they all knew me. I didn’t feel as though they were strangers, even though I did not know their names. It almost felt as though I was the caretaker of the lodge. There was only one way to the lodge — by foot, along a beautiful curving pathway. People of all ages were there. It seemed the lodge was in place only to offer a brief rest. Everyone came and went at their pace; the path continued beyond the lodge.
Then it happened. Screaming. A frantic voice yelling, “Stay back, get away from it!”.
I ran to a window to see what was happening — thinking a bear had come out of the woods. But instead it was a snake. A large black snake, maybe 8 feet long. It was stretched out on the pathway behind the lodge, not hiding or even trying to escape the frenzied people. No one dared go near it, but a man was bringing a hoe, clearly intending to kill the snake.
I ran outside, and before the man could bring the first blow, I grabbed the snake by the tail and pulled it away from him. People gasped. The snake turned its head towards me, looking me eye to eye. The man froze as the snake and I looked at one another. It did not strike or bite or threaten in any way. I remembered my grandfather’s voice… “Some snakes bring death, some snakes bring help, kill those that have poison in them, protect the ones that do not”….
I methodically remembered his sentences. Black snakes are king snakes. Black snakes find rats and eat them. Black snakes find poisonous snakes and eat them. Black snakes root out rats, mice, poisonous snakes….. expose them, devour them, and end them.
So I told the people around me that this was a “cleaning” snake. It wouldn’t harm them even though it looked scary, but it would expose and end things that would hide and hurt them. I explained that the king-snake’s presence was a good sign; he is busy cleaning out the hidden dark corners where harmful things hide.
The people calmed down, asked a few questions, and walked away. As the long black snake kept looking at me, I slowly dragged him into the forest so he could continue his hunt, away from frightened people.
As I walked out of the woods, screams came again. Another large king snake, this time on the porch of the lodge. Clearly, there were “things” hiding in dark corners the king-snakes were after. Again I ran to the snake, took hold of its tail, explained its presence, and carried it away to the forest.
Immediately, more screams. Another black snake, this one was largest of all. He had to have been at least 12 feet long. Running to the snake, I heard a man already speaking. He was the man who had gotten a hoe to kill the first snake. But he had heard my words and trusted the truth of them. This man was doing what I had done. Miraculously and mysteriously, as he began pulling the snake away, the snake grew in size……and so did the man. I ran to help him carry the massive king snake into the woods. People watched in amazement.
Stunned at having witnessed both the man and the snake grow larger. I said, “What just happened, how did you grow larger with the snake?” He replied, “The snake grew bigger because he must get stronger. He has come to expose a big rat that intends to hurt the children. Now that he is stronger, he is able to drive-out and kill big things that want to drag people away and destroy them. He is big because he’s eaten so many destructive things. And I grew big as I helped him. I’m growing stronger too. I want to root out things that destroy.
Shaking my head, I said, “But you’re the guy who was going to kill the smaller snake”.
Nodding, he said, “But I learned its value when you shared your grandfather’s words, and I knew it was truth. I want to expose things that cause harm; to bring light into dark places. I have learned, what hides in dark places always eventually bites.”
I stood silent and amazed as I watched the man who had previously been scared and fearful, become a brave speaker of truth and a strong man willing to stand against what is harmful.
The man and I stood at the edge of the woods, having released the snake into the bushes. And then suddenly, the snake appeared again in front of us. It turned its great head and moved within inches of my nose. It looked me in the eye, but no snake-like eyes met mine. Instead, its eyes were soft, even kind. Without moving its mouth it somehow spoke and said, “As you continue on the pathway ahead, you must be strong and courageous. Know this, there are many enemies who will not like you, just as the rat does not like me. They will come against us, but we must continue to expose what will harm.” I looked at the man as the words kept coming, the snake spoke to him too. “You do not need a hoe to kill what is evil. You need Jesus inside you, God guiding you, Holy Spirit filling you, and bravery to speak truth. Truth roots out the deceit of evil. Truth destroys the confusion of evil. Truth brings Light. Truth sets captives free. But never forget that what lies in the darkness hates when the Light arrives. So you will not be liked by those who choose darkness. Never-mind that. Be strong and courageous. Carry Jesus, obey God. Time is short. Do it.”
Then that 30 foot monstrously huge snake lay its great head on my shoulder and sighed a sound so comforting. It did the same for the man. I was at complete peace. I understood so much in that moment — in a dream.
I woke.
I lay perfectly still and replayed the dream in my mind over and over again.
“Father-God, You just spoke to me didn’t You? I feel You so near. Help me hold what You’re saying and make me stronger in it.”
Now dear friend, I will eagerly admit that I would have much rather have had a lion or a lamb be the lesson giver in my dream. Yikes! Really Lord, a giant snake? And then it came to me, God is not interested in my comfort with the imagery — He is serious about the message. Warriors aren’t forged sitting on pillows.
Do not be afraid of the things that look scary. Walk with Jesus, obey God, and follow the Holy One. For what seems scary might be what is needed in order to accomplish what must happen. If the man in the dream had killed the king-snake, which looked scary to both him and the people, the REAL danger would have grown stronger as it lurked in the darkness.
And then I was reminded, of a night years ago in Kenya, when God taught me an intensely scary, but much needed lesson. He taught me that
comfort is not a good guide,
comfort is not the way to peace,
comfort is unable to stand when hard winds blow or things lurking in darkness emerge.
Comfort is not the friend of Truth and Courage.
Comfort will make us soft and weak.
Comfort will faint and runaway — in the places where strength and bravery are needed.
Be brave enough to know and never forget — that things lurking in darkness will always, in time, emerge. Whether physically, spiritually or generationally, they will come out.
But when we cross our personal Jordan and step into the “land” our Father has given us (which is our life IN HIM) — we can go on the offensive and clean out the corners of every territory in us. No hidden corners of shame, no locked emotional closets, no lurking memories filled with toxic poison allowed to stay. Our Father takes great joy in helping us take hold of what He has provided.
And His sweet language rolled into my heart like this….
“Courageous strength is needed and I, God, will give it. Your part is to stay close to My side, obey when I speak, follow My lead, and stand where I tell you to stand. I, your Abba, will be the Light you carry into dark places. Do not shrink back when you see things scurrying in the darkness. No fear. For I, your Abba, am busy doing what needs to be done. You need only to stand and hold the light.”
Peace.
Complete peace surrounded me.
God spoke to Joshua and said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Then Joshua turned to the people…and said…
“Get your provisions ready’.”
Joshua 1:9-11a
