Something evil lurked under that mess in the middle. There was no smell, no odor, but there was a sense of “death”. It was like a seaweed. On top of the pile lay two birds that looked like pheasants. Around there neck were gold rings. This was a swimming pool. There were two “shallow ends” and over the deeper middle was this area where there was seaweed, the pheasants and something else.

That was part of my dream last night.

This swimming pool was fenced in and lay to the left of the home. The home was mine and it was beautiful. To the right lay another swimming pool that I used. When friends would  “ask” about the value of the pool to the left, I simply told them it was a piece of leased property (It was.) by the government to conduct experiments. They paid a lot of money for me to be there.

I would be lying to say I did not wake up bewildered. In the dream the pool, the evil had no power over me. I think “it” tried to, but I went about my life and never saw anything. No real desire to pursue anything. And simply happy that my life had no issues related to that nor was it hard to take money for a pool that added value to my life in the future.

The more I thought, the more I thought perhaps I would write something else. Maybe about yesterday’s trek with my family to Yankee Candle. Perhaps about my excitement over gathering with my friends and family the Sunday before the Christmas week. And then I saw it.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

In my “revival” days this was a “key” scripture to gathering people. But then I saw this one a little later… Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.…

The Old Testament scripture has value from a historical and truth perspective, but it does not have the Truth. Jesus paid. There is no other sacrifice.

So when I look at 2 Chronicles 7:14 I see that it is important to be humble (James 4:10). Important to pray. (Luke 11:2)I believe we ought to turn from evil. (James 1:27)God hears you. Saved or unsaved, He hears. (An omnipresent God is not “far way”.)And the change on our earth? The healing of our land? He gave us all authority. Who’s job is it?

The pool represented a system or religion. It looked like the one I saw on the other side of the house. But instead it had a hiddenness of darkness. The law empowers sin. (1 Corinthians 15:56) It creates a darkness in its shadow. God has no darkness. The birds represented sacrifices made. The shallow ends caused man’s access to religion to be easy.

In this time of year it is easy to get caught up in the trappings and religious endeavors of the season. To believe that God is like the “wizard of Oz”. Hidden behind a curtain, pulling levers to entice and to wow. But the scripture tells us “it is the goodness of God” that draws man to Him.

Even our heartfelt pain over the 10 Commandments in a courthouse or a nativity scene in a community, I ask where is the reality of Christmas? If it is the goodness of God that brings people in, then it ought to continue to be seen through His people. His people are the drawing card. Invite someone into His goodness. Touch their heart with His.

My dream simply indicated that the law has the ability to entrap. To cause well meaning people to give up their offering and their hope. BUT God has a better way. His name… Jesus. And He has done it all on your behalf.  “The just live by faith.” Accept what He did. And receive His goodness.

There is a reality of Christ and it is found in His people. In their love and the grace Hes has bestowed. Enjoy the waters of His goodness.