WordUp by Chad Gramling

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Yesterday, I spoke about and described to you a vision I once had. I have thought about this many many times over the years. It happened in 1995, and it is still just as vivid in my mind more than a decade later. Unable to interpret it, I’ve always been perplexed by the meaning of the vision.

I think I have finally come to terms with it, however. I may not have it all figured out and it is likely to be something I will ponder the rest of my life until I can ask the great Lord personally.

Drawing from scripture (just as I used to try to interpret dreams through a “Dream Interpretation Dictionary”) I have pulled three passages that are relevant here:

I Corinthians 13 1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Now, I am not going to begin to suggest I speak or have spoken in tongues. However, perhaps the vision that was placed upon me was in tongues. Sure, I understood the images, but I could not comprehend the meaning of the imagery. Therefore, it might as well have been in tongues; a foreign language if you will.

Secondly, there is the matter of possessions. Are possessions of the heart or mind? Of which part belongs your fancy cars, clothes, and supposed valuables, etc? What about intangible possessions (our beliefs)? This lays the foundation for the second scripture;

Matthew 5:30

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Where does sin occur? Having become a Christian and having asked Jesus into my heart it should be easy to conclude that my heart is therefore purified of sin, but my mindset continues to cause sin. Therefore, figuratively (not literally), I must sever my head because it continues to cause sin and allow Jesus (who is in my heart) to be the driver.

And finally, there is the third scripture. It is crucial;

Matthew 22: 36-40

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Wait a minute! Watch-you-talkin’ bout Jesus?

Didn’t we just conclude that my mind is to be cut off because it causes me to sin? Perhaps. Let’s break it down then – Love God with my heart – check. Love God with all my soul – check (I think). Love God with all my mind – um, I think we’re on to something here.

I’ll be back tomorrow to sum this up.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 — So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!