THE DISSAPPEARING FOOTPRINTS

by CHARLES ROBEY
(MOODY AL USA)

PROLOGUE

Growing up in the Florida panhandle, we would oftentimes take an evening stroll on the beach. As a result of these nightly adventures, on occasion, I seemed to end up dreaming about these eventful action-packed walks.

And as part of these youthful escapades, I would sometimes place my feet in the existing beach sand footprints, just for the fun of it.

What about you, had any good dreams lately? Want to tell us about them? OK, then, let us move on.

Have you ever wondered why you happen to appear to be much younger in your dreams? Why you have been sent back in your past to a moment of yesteryear? Well, our dreams oftentimes are built around imagination or maybe 'would be' or 'have been' situations in our lives.

According to some experts (expert - a has-been drip), it could mean that you may have not fully used your personality yet, or you are not letting your positive characteristics come out in front of others. Or perhaps you are reliving some positive or negative reflection, or disappointing situation in your life that needs correcting.

They say, whomever they are, we all dream every night. We just don’t remember most of them. I could go on, but you get the gist of it all. Dreams are just that, dreams. Some wake us up, some we vividly remember, and others we don’t.

For me, dreams serve as a good backdrop for my many fiction blogs. Oh yes, I do stretch the truth occasionally. That’s what makes for a good story. That’s why these blogs are labeled fiction.

Now, when’s the last time your dream gave way to a much-needed faith-based informational message?

So here we go again. Tuck yourself into bed, and get ready for "THE DISSAPPEARING FOOTPRINTS"

Job 33:14-18” For God does speak - now one way, now another - though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword."

“Are you going jogging down at the beach this evening, Dear?” my wife asked.

“No, not tonight, Love. I’m plum tuckered out from wrestling all week with my Bible seminary students," I replied. "This week has just about done me in. Maybe I am about ready to pull the pension.”

I had no more gotten down to my man cave and slumped down in my worn recliner when it all happened. I was once again caught up in another dream world encounter. It was the most unusual of its kind. I found myself located out at the wide-open seaside.

Above was the most beautiful deep blue sky, decorated by white puffy clouds. It seemed as if I could almost reach up and write messages for all the world to see.

The sun had cast its evening shadow across the smooth clear blue waters of the sea. The deep white sand was blowing gently in a calm fashion across the beachhead. That’s what I saw, as I walked along.

I seemed to be all alone. No one was around in me in either direction. So I quietly walked on, in the calm cool of the evening, happily enjoying it all. I was enjoying the view of the pure white sand, moving gently in the calm sea breeze. as far as I could see in front of me. I even sang out a tune or two.

In the sand as I walked along, I came upon the perfect pattern of a single pair of footprints. As I moved forward, so did the prints in front of me. No one was in sight, however,

Then, as if by some unknown divine intervention, the footprints in the front of me suddenly disappeared. Not only did those prints disappear, but looking back, my footprints had vanished, as well.

How strange could this be? I pondered. There’s just no way it could have happened, for a walk in such sand to suddenly disappear, with no one around. It’s impossible, to say the least. In fact, it kind of gave me a ghostly chill, just thinking about it.

Then, from out of out of nowhere, within my spirit, came a perfectly imprinted mind picture. Looking directly upward into the clouds I saw a perfect picture of a handprint with the index finger pointing downward. As I looked on, the finger began to write. It was an appropriate Scripture verse for the occasion, visibly written in the clouds.

“There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:31)

How strange, but how perfectly fitting this scripture passage was! It was just perfect for the understanding of this tired, old Bible professor.

Again, as if by some divine intervention my mind activated again. Yes, another appropriate Scripture verse appeared in the clouds, written by the same mysterious hand.

“Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.” (Psalm 77:19)

Both Scriptures seemed to hit the spot. I quickly realized the point behind those disappearing footprints. But that wasn’t the end.

“Oh no, don’t tell me!” I called out.

Yet another perfectly-placed Scripture verse appeared. The hand was pointing yet again, however, this time down at me.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Wow, what a cloud sermon! What a lecture plan! Let me grab out my iPhone, I must jot this all down for future reference before I forget. But it was too late. My dream had ended, as quickly as it started. All was gone, the beach, the water, the sky.

I was back home, there in my old recliner. I was as tuckered out as If I had run the race of the century. “Dear, Dear, can you hand me down a little pick-me-up?" I called to my wife. "This snooze took it all out of me."

End of dream, beginning of service.

EPILOGUE

After coming through this unusual dream with me, perhaps you can relate to its writing and intent. You may even wish you had been there. While you are wide awake and more aware of this dream's meaning, which related Scripture verses would have fit your life? How would you have reacted to it all?

I realize we are now living in tumultuous times. But we must be vigilant, watchful and attentive to the things and the whims of today’s progressive culture. Not giving in, but standing firm for the faith. (Hebrews 11:1, 3, 6) This will enable us to a world of hope, of much higher and more practical faith-based values.

Now I ask you, do you dream? If so, do you remember such dreams? Are such dreams in character with your life? If so, how do you react to such dreams? What was your reaction to this one?

The Scripture has much to say about dreams, both pro and con. So relax and take life easy, with faith and conviction, one stop at a time.

Bye for now, See you later in my dreams. Amen!

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