The Old
Ship of Zion – We’ve often heard this title. Some in story form, some in
sermons, others in song. It is an analogy for the Christian life, the Ship
being salvation with our Lord and Saviour at the helm as we sail through the
sea of life, rescuing the drowning souls along the way, to our final
destination – the ports of Heaven. This subject came up in conversation with a
good friend and in the midst of talking I saw this analogy displayed in quite a
different way. Later that night I had a vivid dream of that conversation and
the analogy that had come to mind. It may have been God revealing some truth,
or just an active imagination; nevertheless this analogy was quite interesting
to the extent I felt I must write it down and share. If nothing else it would
make a captivating story for one of those ancient “stories on tape”. I do not
entirely know for sure what the dream meant, if it meant anything at all,
however this is what I saw…
The Great
Ship of Zion, with enormous sails billowing in the salty breeze, came bursting
into view with such illustrious grandeur and magnificence. No ship has ever
come close to its captivating beauty and majesty, as well as endurance and
strength. It was a beacon of hope for lost stragglers and shipwrecks as its
purpose was to rescue the perishing and give refuge to any and all. The raging
sea of life was full of drowning and helpless souls, some frantically grasping
at wreckage floating by, while others just struggled to keep their heads above
the water line. As the Mighty Ship sailed on it was endlessly throwing out
lifelines to those fighting for survival. Some accepted the help and was
swiftly pulled on board where they were immediately given new robes to wear and
shelter from the storm, while others pushed the line away, refusing the help,
and insisted they could “do it themselves”.
Suddenly it
seemed to jump ahead to many years later and what I saw was quite different…
Aboard the
Ship, the hundreds of thousands of rescued Christians stood. Some continually
assisting the rescue process, some sitting off in a corner as if to avoid
contact with anyone, while others were gathering in separate circles and groups
as in a cliquish and private club-like manner. The individual groups started
bickering against each other, which only seemed to form even more separate
groups. Next thing I know the groups are heading to the lifeboats and lowering
them into the water. They all claimed to have the answers and refused to
associate themselves with the other groups.
Now paddleboats are filling the
waters around the Great ship. Each boat is filled with people who are now
rowing instead of riding and rescuing. As I took a closer look at the
individual lifeboats I saw with surprise that each person had chains around
their ankles keeping them locked inside the boat. In horror I witnessed a few
of the boats push away some struggling souls trying to climb into the boat for
safety. On occasion, although rare, the paddleboats would toss a life ring out
which would instantly be clung to by desperate drowning souls, but instead of
pulling them in to rest in the safety of the lifeboat, they left them out to
drag along behind.
Then
I noticed that the Ship of Zion, instead of sailing on at the original speed,
had slowed down to remain alongside of the lifeboats rowing in the sea. I saw
those that had remained on the Ship were now calling out to those chained in
the boats to come back onboard where they belong. They began to throw lifelines
into the boats begging them to grab on so they could pull them up. Sadly, many
were ignored or tossed away. Some, however, became convicted of how far they
had strayed and their eyes were opened to the chains around their ankles and as
they reached out their hands and grabbed the rope the chains that held them
there suddenly fell off and they were freely and effortlessly pulled back into
the arms of the Captain and safely aboard the Great Ship of Zion.
I
suddenly awoke and realized it was just a dream. Or was it? It felt so vividly
real and it seemed to reveal such a powerful message. I don’t entirely know
what it means, if it meant anything at all, but I do know that I don’t dream
often and when I do they have never been this real or this vivid. It has been
days since this dream occurred and yet it is so clear in my mind. There may be
more truth to this than we realize. I want to be the one on the Ship actively
part of the rescue group of those in the water and those in the boats. “Rescue
the perishing, care for the dying. Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save!”
