The Tour

As we continue to celebrate the 28th Anniversary of the Old Lazy Dog Blog this week, today's is one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy the flashback. Keep the Faith - Marty

“He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” 
- Matthew 9:37-38 NLT

The dream started innocently enough with a tour of Heaven.

My Host (I never saw his face, only heard the voice) guided me, along with a few others (though I never saw their faces either) through a tour of Heaven. 

I really don’t remember everything, or really much of anything that I saw there. I don’t remember seeing Jesus or His throne… and I don’t recall seeing angels or golden streets. Though, somehow I know they were there. 
 
I do, however, remember the sense of great peace and joy that I felt… and the sense of awe for where I was. I remember that it was everything I imagined it would be… and more.

Then the Host asked us if we wanted to tour hell.

I remember the sense of dread that I felt when the question was asked. Yet, at his insistence, we agreed to a tour… as we were assured that it would be just a tour. And in a flash, we were there… in the midst of hell.

As the tour began, I remember thinking that hell looked a lot like earth… like a normal neighborhood… like a place that we would normally live… and work. And it surprised me because it was nothing like what I had expected. I saw no flames. I heard no weeping… no gnashing of teeth (remember this was just a dream and not necessarily a biblical study).

That’s when I saw what looked like a man swimming laps in a pool.

And I thought, “A pool… in hell? This makes no sense.”

As I continued to watch, I noticed that the swimmer was not making any progress. In fact, it looked as if he was trying to reach the edge of the pool but could not quite reach it. With each stroke a hand would reach for the side and miss… and then the struggle would begin again… Stroke… Reach… Miss… Stroke… Reach… Miss… Again, and again. The swimmer was trying desperately to reach the side… to grab the side… to somehow pull himself out of the pool. 

He could not.

As I saw this, I wondered, “Where is the life guard?” and I ran to the pool to give the swimmer some help. All he needed was a hand… someone or something to hold on to… to grab hold of… someone to help pull him out of the pool. I could see the exhaustion on his face… the desperation in his eyes. I had to find a way to help him.

As I kneeled and reached my hand out to the swimmer, I felt the heavy hand of my Host on my shoulder, and I heard the voice say, “You can’t help him… it’s too late for him…There’s nothing you can do… This one can’t be saved… The swimmer is already in hell.”

“But all I have to do is reach out…”

And the hand felt heavier on my shoulder and tears welled up in my eyes. 

“It’s too late for him now…”

All the swimmer needed was a hand and I couldn’t give it to him. I couldn’t help. He had to struggle for the rest of eternity.

As we walked on, everywhere I looked, I saw men and women… students and teenagers… boys and girls… all struggling with their worst nightmare, with their greatest fear. And there was nothing any of us could do. I felt great sorrow and sadness. Knowing that these people would be there for all eternity in agony… pain… frustration… desperation… and exhaustion. In their own hell… their own flames… their own weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As I woke from the dream, my heart racing and my eyes wet with tears, it hit me. All that the swimmer needed… all that the other people needed was someone to care… to share… to lead them in the right direction. 

All that these people needed was for someone to take a moment… to take a little time to help with their struggles… their fears… their concerns. 

All these people needed was for someone to be obedient… to feel God’s pull on their heart… to hear God’s call for their life. 

All these people needed… all this world needs is for someone… anyone… to introduce them to Jesus. Before it was too late.

Is that someone you? 

Is that someone… me? 

The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem