Jars at a Cemetery (vision) Part II

        On Wednesday night, I shared my "Jars at a Cemetery" vision to my high school group. During the worship service prior to me speaking, God showed me visions for three people. After I finished explaining the vision, I spoke to each person.
        For one person: I saw a glass jar full of sand. A grain of sand on its own is insignificant, yet the more sand there is the noticeable it becomes. Similarly, a single act of love might seem unimportant, but continue showing acts of love and there will definitely be an obvious impact.
        For the next person: I saw a jar with a flower in it and the lid screwed on tight. The flower was rootless and withering, a symbol of his life at the moment. God wanted to reveal to him that He has greater plans for his future, that he will grow roots (so to speak) and be rejuvenated.
        For the third person: I saw a jar full of water with smooth stones, then an image of rocks being thrown into a rushing river. When rough, jagged rocks are left under a river's water, the rough edges wear away and become smooth. God spoke to the girl through this--If she jumped into the river of His glory and His love, all of her rough edges would be washed away. Her transformation will become a testimony and encouragement to people experiencing similar trials as her.
        God also revealed to me the meaning of the beating heart and firefly I saw in the jars in the vision. The beating heart in the jar was meant to show that a beating her does not constitute living. There is an Anberlin song that comes to mind that says "There's more to living than being alive." A firefly flickers its dim light on and off at will. We were meant to live as steadfast bright lights in the world, not dull and wavering.

Jars at a Cemetery (vision)

        Lying on a couch in a college apartment, I had a vision. I was visiting my future college in Oregon for a scholarship competition and was able to sleep on campus. After a long day of exciting activities, I was feeling calm and prepared to work hard on my competition the next day. I was hoping to get plenty of rest so I would not be distracted by tiredness and the inability to think straight. Instead, I would doze off for an hour, wake up, doze off, wake up... I sat up and read my Bible for a while (specifically, Romans 8), then changed to The Reason for God by Timothy Keller (great book).
        I closed my eyes, sinking into the couch, thinking I was about to fall asleep. God had other plans--He gave me a vision. At first, I thought I was having a nightmare--it seemed dark and sinister--but God showed me that it was from Him, that I didn't need to be afraid, that I needed to pay attention to what He was showing me.
        I saw a dark cemetery. Old, gray, cracked tombstones covered the landscape. A full moon hovered above the thick fog that lingered over the ground. Next to each tombstone was a glass jar. Most jars were empty or cracked. Some had trinkets or mementos in them--photographs, ticket stubs, pebbles... symbols of memories from that lifetime. They were representations of what that life had accomplished. The photographs showed friendships and relationships, whether shallow or impactful. Ticket stubs showed wasted time, time spent doing things that did not really matter. The pebbles were the extra weight, the burdens, people felt whether it be from worry, sins, guilt, grudges... In one jar, I saw a beating heart. In another, a firefly. These were just glimpses into the lives of the people who no longer existed.
        I heard a booming voice: "What will your legacy be? What will you be remembered for? What will you leave behind?"
        I asked myself: What will be in my "jar"? Will my jar be a broken, shattered mess that holds nothing, no memories, no legacy? Will it hold fond memories for only my own recollection? Will I have an impact on the people around me?
        I thought about my desires, my aspirations for my future. I do not want to lead a pointless, self-satisfying life. I do not want to leave this world without having contributed to something bigger than me. I want to live my life filled with the Holy Spirit--I know that through Him I can make a difference in the world for Christ. I think about Romans 8:5-6... "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." I think it appropriate the vision was set in a place of death, especially after reading Romans 8. I hope that my "jar" will be a legacy based on what the Spirit has helped me accomplish, not achievements of the flesh.
        Take some time to consider these things: What will be in your "jar"? What will you be remembered for? What do you want to be remembered for?

A Brief Summary of the Heart

        The heart is not static--it is ever-changing, ever-growing. Change can happen overnight or over the course of a lifetime, for better or for worse. Child-like and innocent at the start, the heart can be corrupted and hardened by the world. Buried beneath the cynicism, the child's heart remains, calling from underneath the rubble, crying to be uncovered and restores. A choice must be made: be ensnared in despair or let your heart be Spirit-filled and joyful once again.