God's Spoken Word – No.7
October 1974
The
Obstacle Course Vision
(Further details about the training programme
for the Elect)
In this vision a large number of people were seen jog-trotting
along a path that led off the main road. They had to negotiate a number of
obstacles along the way before completing their course. As the race progressed,
it was observed that there were to be no special honours for the first to
arrive, but rather for the fact of completing the course. It was then
observed that more and more of the company fell out due to fatigue and injury,
but near the end there were still some in the race.
The obstacles were as
follows -
1. A high wall that had to
be scaled using the ropes provided.
2. A densely packed forest
of trees, where the light was dim and the way difficult.
3. A deep murky bog, where
feet dragged through mud that at times reached up to the thighs.
4. A stretch of land
covered with sharp stones, broken glass and other similar impediments to
progress.
5. A fast-flowing river
that had to be crossed by skilful swimming.
6. A patch of dense scrub
that grew taller and thicker as progress was made. Many contestants failed in
this due to their inability to find a way through the inhospitable growth.
7. A glass wall that was
not at first seen to be there at all.
One man managed to reach
this wall and nearly knocked himself out as he hit it. He tried to find a way
round but it seemed to be unending. He tried to scale it, but couldn't find the
top anywhere. Dismayed he sank to the ground, not knowing what to do next. He
knew that the wall was an obstacle, and that he had to get to the other side,
but all possibilities evaded him.
But as he lay on the ground
thinking it over, he espied a small door with a handle, very low down, and only
visible to those who had given up and not known what to do next. Turning the
handle, the door opened, and it was just big enough for him to squeeze through.
On the other side of the
glass wall there was darkness, and no possibility of going further. Indeed,
there seemed to be no track, no pathway visible, and perhaps, for all he knew,
there was a deep chasm. He had no power or ability to go further, and so he
rested his back against the wall and waited for a sign of what would happen
next.
Shortly afterwards he saw a
small point of light in the distance, and it seemed to beckon to him, though
there was no possible way of reaching it. But as he watched, the light grew
stronger, and he then realised that whatever it as, it was approaching him, and
therefore he had no option but that of inaction and waiting.
Eventually the light became
very bright and he could now see that it took the shape of a square. And after
some time the "square" reached him and set down right in front of
him. There were two doors, one on each side of the square. The door on the left
opened, and someone from within beckoned to him. He passed through the door,
which was then shut behind him.
After a while the right
hand door opened and the man emerged. But now he was seen to be in a quite
different condition. Bright new garments replaced the tattered clothes, and
there were no more scratches or bloodstains on his flesh. Indeed, he looked to
be in full vigour of strength, no longer exhausted, but full of life, and on
his face there was a slight glow.
Walking straight through
the glass wall he made his way back along the obstacle course to meet the rest
of those who had fallen by the wayside, and greeting them with encouragement,
and imparting strength, he enabled them all to go on and reach the glass wall,
where each one entered the left hand door and emerged from the right, changed.
The
thrill that will attend all those who are "changed" into their new
bodies, and be together with all those who have died, and now received their
new bodies, is something that none of us can as yet estimate, but merely yearn
for by the grace of God, in that He has placed His own word of encouragement
before us. Suppose someone "comes back" at the start of the Kingdom,
and tells us about "the other side." It could be very much like the
words of Tom Springfield's song, which he wrote in 1967, and which was sung by
the Seekers in that year.
ON THE OTHER SIDE
River, River, soon I'm gonna be over on the
Other Side,
Water, Water, I just gotta be over on the Other Side,
Don't be long now, 'cause I'm movin' on,
In the Morning you're gonna find me gone,
Movin' over on the Other Side,
Movin' over on the Other Side,
Come on and follow me, you'll be satisfied.
On the Other Side the Sun will shine,
On the Other Side everything is fine,
On the Other Side we'll learn to be content, I know,
Where the grass is green we'll step ashore,
And the air is clean we'll weep no more
Leave your troubles far behind on the Other Side.
No more lonesome city misery over on the Other
Side,
That's why everybody oughta be over on the Other Side,
Don't you tell me 'Get to work at nine!'
Gonna do things in my own sweet time,
I'm movin' over on the Other Side,
Movin' over on the Other Side,
Come on and follow me, you'll be satisfied
.