A Vision

Good Morning,

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

I read these verses, sat back, closed my eyes, and I saw what some would call a "disturbing" vision in my mind. I say it might be considered disturbing because what I saw was totally against almost everything that people know, have been taught, and believe in...in this day and in this age. What, you might ask, did I see?

I had a vision of people going off to work each day, those who were of working age, and going to school each day, the children and young people, all well fed, all appearing happy, and all filled with the joy of the Lord in their hearts and minds. I saw people who were left behind doing the normal, everyday tasks of cooking and cleaning, taking care of the small children and the aged who were not totally capable of taking care of themselves. These, who were left behind as others went out into the world, were just as those who left. That is, they were happy in their tasks and joyful in their words and deeds...filled with the joy of the Lord. I saw people who praised God daily and broke bread with one another daily, that is, celebrated what we call "Holy Communion" regularly. All the while, singing praises to God, reading and discussing Scripture, smiling, laughing and truly enjoying their lives because of the sharing that was being done.

I saw no poverty in my vision, no need, no want. I saw no one with huge wealth, as all was being shared equally with everyone else. There were teachers and carpenters; lawyers and janitors; mothers and fathers; little babies and octogenarians; policemen and firemen; workers of every kind and students learning. There were, as I looked, every kind and shape of people; every color and nationality of people. None had more than others and none had less.

I saw people gather daily to sing praises to God. I saw many teaching people who did not have a knowledge of God. I saw people looking in wonder at this and truly desiring what they saw. I saw people coming to the Lord in great numbers and joining with those already gathered in His name and for His purposes.

I saw a people truly filled with the Holy Spirit and doing wonders that we don't think can be done, and cannot be done in our own power. I saw, in my mind, and felt, in my heart, a kind of perfection that pleased God and truly blessed all people.

I saw all of this and more, but it would take a tome to convey all of what I felt and saw in only a few moments. I am often filled with wonder at how God can show us things sometimes in just the blink of an eye!

Now, what I saw would be disturbing to many because our society would call this a "commune" and, therefore, those who were there some kind of socialist or communist folk. But, what I saw was what we read in today's Scripture verses in a modern application. What I saw I can only say that I wished could even be partially some kind of reality. That is, where brothers and sisters in Christ had no need or want. Where we all shared what we had, both physically as in food, shelter, clothing, and the like, and also shared our love of God in a way that we don't normally see today.

I guess the point would be that we CAN be better at being Christians and being more like what we read in Acts of the early Church. (You notice the capital "C" there, because there was, at that time, ONLY one Church!) I would venture to say that God wants us to read these verses today and think about ways in which each of us can become a more loving, caring, giving person.

Just thought I'd share.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David