The Road Less Traveled
G.I.F.T
Season 5
This word is dedicated to my very dear friend, Rob Cottam, who was promoted to glory a few weeks before this word was given.
As I emerged from the darkness and looked around, it seemed that we were in a place where many paths converge. It was as though scales were falling from my eyes. I looked up as everyone was calling out with great excitement and beheld the Heavenly City, wrapped in clouds of Glory slowly descending out of Heaven, just as the book of Revelations had foretold. I could hear the sounds of a growing company. Many, like myself, were a little confused as to what was going on, and how we had come to be in this place. As I sat down in this company of saints, great joy continued to fall upon us all like waves. We were instinctively aware that with the dawning of that great day we would descend into the Heavenly Jerusalem, there to be with the Lamb forever. Revelation 21:3-4 WEB; Revelation 21:10-27 WEB
I looked back down the trail that had seemed so dark, the trail along which in the end I had to be led by the hand of the Saviour. I heard to my amazement laughter, and I could see people emerging from the same trail that had caused me so much pain and noticed that they were carrying little lights. When I asked them what they were, they explained that the trail was now clearly marked with these lights. Puzzled, I walked back down the trail, and indeed it was now lit with lights, some dull and some bright. I walked back down a little further, and noticed to my amazement, that where I had stumbled and fallen weeping, there were many little lights and the light was more intense. I walked still further down the trail and picked up one of these lights. Engraved on the stem was the word Hope.
I stood silently in utter amazement for some time. Greatly humbled, I slowly realised that the Saviour had turned my tears into Lights of Hope for those who were to follow. I wept profusely, and turned to take my place with the ever-growing company on top of the mountain. As I made my way back, I was healed of all my hurts and overcome with tears of joy, wonder and enlightenment. I began to understand what He had done with my tears and prayers when I had called out to Him in utter desperation on so many occasions on my lonely journey. I was overwhelmed with an appreciation of His great love for me and of the suffering that He endured for us all. It began to dawn on me what Abba had done with the suffering, tears and prayers of His own Son Heb 5:7-10 WEB. The power and glorious hope that was born in the intimate communion that can only be accessed through the doorway of suffering.
I am drawn magnetically by an ever-increasing awareness of His great love and His presence being released like streams of Glory cascading down the hillside towards me. I realise now that I was never alone on my journey, and that an intimacy and a bond that is beyond words, was forged on The Road Less Traveled.
I now understand what a privilege it has been for me to share in the Saviour’s suffering, and how lightly I have been afflicted compared to what He has endured. I could not understand what the Saviour was doing in me because of the hurt and pain, but now that I understand what He has done in and through me, all remaining resistance is broken down and I know that I am His and He is mine. 1 Peter 5:10 WEB
The hill is erupting in praise; the glorious city is even closer now. The cloud of His Glory is enveloping us all. He is coming! We will soon be caught up to be with Him forever!
Thomas A. Petterson
20th July 2009
Excerpt From: Thomas A. Petterson. “G.I.F.T Godly Insights for Today.”
Australian eBook Publisher, 2014. iBooks. This material is protected by copyright
Scripture List
Revelation 21:3-4 (WEB) I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:10-27 (WEB) He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. 13 On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. 15 He who spoke with me had for a measure, a golden reed, to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 16 The city is square, and its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal. 17 Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. 19 The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire;[c] the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. 23 The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 25 Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter. 27 There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Hebrews 5:7-10 (WEB) He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, 8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. 9 Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation, 10 named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
1 Peter 5:10 (WEB) But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
