“Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take him for granted and despise him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding he has been to you? Don’t mistake his tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance? But because of your calloused heart and refusal to change direction, you are piling up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.” Rom. 2:4-5
His kindness radiates from His beautiful heart. As our damaged souls breathe a sigh of desperation, His kindness comes, invisible but potent. He is confident that even a touch of His magnificent kindness is able to soften a hard heart.
Oh the joy He feels when His kindness is received by damaged people. Feeling completely unworthy of anything kind, wehave isolated ourselves from love. But when we hear the gentle knock of His kindness, we can dare to peek out and see if help has finally come.
His kindness carries our wounded hearts, and steadies our confused minds. Those who have been assaulted and abused understand self-protection and a life-style of fear. But the kindness of Jesus has nothing harsh or jagged in it. It never will.
His kindness is wrapped in patience, and He lovingly waits for us to begin to trust again.
We expect rebuke, but He comes with compassion. We expect punishment, but He brings restoration.
He knows the most intimate thoughts of humanity, even the most vile and perverted. Yet He cherishes all of us. It is this undeserved and unconditional tenderness that leads us to repentance. He is so eager to express His extravagant kindness that He offers it to all, at every turn. His default is mercy, for who can stand before Him on the Judgment Day without it?
When Moses encountered the I AM in the wilderness, “…the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth;”
Exodus 34:6 NASB
Which one of us would offer mercy, new every day, to those who reject us, or curse us or hate us? Yet, He kindly holds out His holy heart for just the moment the prodigal will come to his senses. He offers His magnificent kindness to come along side the degenerate who wants to be free.
The kindness of Jesus is the bright star that can lead us home to His heart. May His extravagant compassion melt our hearts and lead us to change our ways. He’s on our side. He wants us to be free. May His kindness lead us home to love. How can we refuse such a beautiful gift?
He is not going to hurt us; He wants to save us. He is not going to lecture us; He is going to sing over us. He is not going to shame us; He is going to call us His own.
“Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God.” Rom. 5:2 TPT
I had encounters in the Mountain House. They weren’t dreams, or imagination. They were real. And life transforming. They are for all of us, because when one rejoices we all rejoice.
So I invite you into this encounter with me. Take a few deep breaths. See what He shows you.
In encounter, Wisdom brought me to the Tree of Life. The tree stood fully alive on a hill, with branches and leaves and fruit and shade. The sun illuminated him from behind, and made him glisten as the breeze moved his leaves and branches. Every other tree knew him and loved him. They knew he was all life and wonderful goodness, permanent and steadfast. As Wisdom brought me closer, I smelled this wonderful woody fruity fragrance. It made me hunger for his fruit. As we came under his shade, it was like every memory and experience I had had in my life was cooled and refreshed. I felt like I had always been here, or I had always been with him.
I use the pronoun him because he had persona. He was alive, and felt even more alive than me. And ancient, and wise and majestic and strong. I approached him as one would approach a monarch, a sovereign, with humility and honor. As I looked up I could see five branches within my scope of vision. Each branch was dark wood and so very, very strong and solid. I thought of how I wanted to touch a branch, and suddenly I was elevated and could touch the high branch. As my fingers reached out to touch, before they even reached the limb, I could feel this soft energy emanating from him. It was as though he contained so much life, the structure was insufficient to house it.
Then I began to hunger for a taste of his fruit. When suddenly the revelation came that I was touching the humanity of Christ. I was beholding the Incarnate One, who became like us so He could make us like Him. Then, Father said to me, “This is the gift of honor. You have honored the Incarnation in your heart and in your words. And when you honor, and what you honor opens to you. Honor is a door into revelation light.”
I wanted to kiss the branches, I never wanted to leave this moment.
Wisdom had raised me up so I could touch the high branches. Now, she lowered me back to the ground so I could experience his roots and wide trunk. I saw scars and gashes in the trunk – how he had silently endured his tormentors who had beaten his innocent flesh with Roman whips. Now these windows of vulnerability remained visible as a testament to his suffering love.
“My beloved is to me the most fragrant apple tree— he stands above the sons of men. Sitting under his grace-shadow, I blossom in his shade, enjoying the sweet taste of his pleasant, delicious fruit, resting with delight where his glory never fades. SOS 2:3
Then he spoke to me and said, “You are a tree, planted by the river…”. And I realized he was referring to Ps. 1:3 He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.”
This verse takes on such a profoundly deep meaning for me, because now I know I am like him, I am one of his kind, human and divine in one being. I am a tree, and he is The Tree.
The sun behind him seemed to be setting, and I worried that it would get dark and I would have to leave him. I never wanted to leave him. I never wanted to come away from his protection, his strength, his fruit and his shade. Then Wisdom reassured me, like a mother comforting her little child. “There is no night here. There is no darkness, as you know darkness. The light is in you.” This calmed me and took away my worry.
As it is in encounters, there was some communication without speaking. I thought of the fruit, and how I wanted to taste it. Wisdom knew my desire right away. And suddenly she was holding in her hands a pear shaped fruit that was glowing. It was pale green and I wondered if I would start glowing if I ate the fruit, and Wisdom laughed. She said, “You already do!” I was not aware until that moment that I was glowing. But as soon as I realized it, it seemed like I had always known it. And Wisdom was glowing, and the tree was glowing, and everything shimmered. It was love. Love illuminated everything from within. Even the ground where I stood had a soft glow, like a guiding presence, available for me anytime I didn’t know the way.
I took the fruit from Wisdom’s hand and it was warm. I wondered if it had been in the sun. And Wisdom smiled and said, “We are all in the Son.” I knew she meant everything that existed was in Him.
Then I lifted the glowing fruit to my lips and took a bite. It was juicy, and sweet, but not like any fruit I had ever tasted. It felt nourishing, refreshing, full of healing and strength. And then he said, “This is my body, given for you.” I was undone. Here in this place of holy love and light, I was partaking of Him, of Jesus. Of His life and death and resurrection. I was joined to Him. I was and am in Him forever. I am in Him and He is in me.
Wisdom was seated on the ground leaning against the tree. I thought she must spend a lot of time here. She knew my thought again, and said, “ I do. And so can you.” I knew instantly that the reality of this place was now forever accessible to me – as are so many of our encounters – able to be revisited at any moment. Honor is the door of access.
I knew this time was coming to a close, and as I looked down to walk away, I saw a leaf on the ground. It glowed, gently, just like everything else. I picked it up, like you would pick up a sea shell when you took a walk on the beach – a little reminder of a beautiful moment. But, Wisdom again instructed me in a greater reality. “You are a leaf, a healing substance for your nation. You are forever joined to him, and all that He is and has is in you.”
As one does after being in the presence of a king, I did not turn my back to walk away, but instead slowly walked backwards, wanting this glorious vision to remain in my consciousness. And it has, and always will.
I realize now, I was in Eden. It is open for us now, and we can enter its delights.
