For years I had a reoccurring concept of a vision in my mind that I believed to be true. I saw myself standing outside a large round room that was located outdoors. The walls were floor to ceiling clear glass. The room was bright yet softly illuminated as if by sunlight because there were no light fixtures anywhere. A beautiful stone water feature was placed in the center and as the water gently cascaded down the rocks it looked so peaceful. So did all the people who filled the room.

I stood outside just looking in and wondered why everyone was gathered here. The closer I looked I recognized many people. I saw family members, immediate and extended. I saw so many friends. Some were friends I had made recently but many were from friendships that began years ago. Oddly, many of the people were strangers to me. As I watched all of these people I noticed their demeanors. Some were laughing between themselves, others were in casual conversations and several others looked to be in deep discussions. Suddenly I realized the room must be soundproof because I could see them talking but heard nothing. Everyone looked comfortable and at ease. I was so curious why they were gathered in this room. Were they waiting for someone? Was this a centralized meeting area and they would eventually be going somewhere else?

I decided to ask someone. I looked around for the door so I could enter. I walked around the entire structure but found no door. I tried getting the attention of someone by wildly waving my arms and shouting. I could clearly see them so it made sense they should see me. But no one looked in my direction. It was as though I were invisible. After a frantic effort to get someone to let me in I was still standing outside. 

I was so confused. I kept thinking, “What is this place and why are these people here?” As I stood staring in at them I was startled by a voice saying, “These are God’s loved ones. And you don’t belong.” The words hit me with such force it took my breath away. I began gasping for air. My legs felt weak and I started to collapse. I sat down to gain some composure but I kept hearing those words over and over. “And you don’t belong.” It was the confirmation of what I had always feared. My mind had always reasoned there was a loving God and his promises are true for everyone. Everyone except me. I wasn’t good enough. Tears began to flow and my heart ached. Just then I heard a different voice say, “It is a LIE. You are being deceived.”

I came to understand this vision represented that my faith was centered in my head. The prince of lies had been telling my mind that I wasn’t one of God’s children. The empty sadness I felt was because my faith wasn’t full enough. I needed to believe with more. I needed to have faith with all of me. That door to that room I was trying to find, the door to be opened was my heart.

  Now I know and believe the real truth. We do have an ever-loving God and His promises are true for every one of us. He wants us to accept his love and love him in return with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. Once I opened my heart and believed with my whole being, I found myself standing in that room with all His children.

“Oh how great the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God and that is what we are.”   1 John 3:1 (NSV)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”            Matthew 22:37 (NSV)