Dress Rehearsal For Eternity
One night several months ago, God whispered the phrase “Dress rehearsal for eternity” into my spirit. I asked him “what does that mean”? “Should it be a title for the book I have been putting off writing? Is it a title for an article I should write? Is it something that I should make others aware of? Or is it something you are telling me for me alone?” God did not answer my questions. Since that night, He has made me aware of how important it is to live for eternity and not for this world.
Soon after God whispered those words to me, I received a call about my brother being in Intensive Care. The doctors gave him a 30/70 percent chance to live. My brother and I had grown up very close, he was always protective over me and I adored him. Always wanting to keep up with him, I climbed trees challenged him to races, and grew up as a tomboy. Many childhood memories flooded my thoughts and an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude filled me. You see it was almost a year ago that our family had lost our oldest sister. I was still mourning her passing and could not imagine losing another sibling. I prayed for my brother to receive healing and I thanked God for it. I kept remembering that we are healed by the many stripes He bore for us. I believe in God’s word and I know He is not a respecter of persons but he is a rewarder of faith.
When the doctors shook their heads in disbelief over my brother’s quick recovery, I praised God for his healing power. No sooner than my brother was out of the woods and on the way to a wonderful recovery, my husband and I received news of my brother-in-law being in Intensive Care. He had been diagnosed with a fatal disease and the doctors were unsure of what treatment to use. We traveled to the hospital and I prayed over his body and asked God to heal him from head to toe. He was unable to communicate with us and we are not sure if he recognized who we were. We left the hospital after speaking with the doctor, who said that she believed they were on the right track for treatment, but only time, would tell. The doctor explained that the disease he suffered had been fatal for many others. We refused to believe the same for him. A week later, he was able to communicate again, was released out of Intensive Care and the doctors marveled at his quick recovery.
When I thought of what God was showing me, I was awestruck. I believe He gave me a glimpse of what eternity will bring. God knew that I was devastated after my sister passed because I had believed in her being healed. I recently recalled a memory of her last hospital stay where she began talking to people who had died, and I remembered her saying “I didn’t know it would be like this”. At the time I thought she was referring to all of her suffering. But now God has allowed me to understand that she was seeing heaven in all its glory and was marveling at what she saw. It was at that moment that I finally had the peace to let her go and to really be grateful that she was no longer suffering.
So when I think of “dress rehearsal for eternity” I think of where I want to spend eternity. I, like most people want to live a good life while I am here on this earth but I am more concerned with not losing my soul. God’s plan is for us to live our lives to glorify Him. It grieves the Holy Spirit when we treat others bad and make excuses for why we dislike one another. While we are in this earthly body we need to understand that in heaven, race, economic standing, education, and all the other things we feel through our sensory mechanisms will not play a role. Where will you spend eternity? You are in the dress rehearsal for it now.
Soon after God whispered those words to me, I received a call about my brother being in Intensive Care. The doctors gave him a 30/70 percent chance to live. My brother and I had grown up very close, he was always protective over me and I adored him. Always wanting to keep up with him, I climbed trees challenged him to races, and grew up as a tomboy. Many childhood memories flooded my thoughts and an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude filled me. You see it was almost a year ago that our family had lost our oldest sister. I was still mourning her passing and could not imagine losing another sibling. I prayed for my brother to receive healing and I thanked God for it. I kept remembering that we are healed by the many stripes He bore for us. I believe in God’s word and I know He is not a respecter of persons but he is a rewarder of faith.
When the doctors shook their heads in disbelief over my brother’s quick recovery, I praised God for his healing power. No sooner than my brother was out of the woods and on the way to a wonderful recovery, my husband and I received news of my brother-in-law being in Intensive Care. He had been diagnosed with a fatal disease and the doctors were unsure of what treatment to use. We traveled to the hospital and I prayed over his body and asked God to heal him from head to toe. He was unable to communicate with us and we are not sure if he recognized who we were. We left the hospital after speaking with the doctor, who said that she believed they were on the right track for treatment, but only time, would tell. The doctor explained that the disease he suffered had been fatal for many others. We refused to believe the same for him. A week later, he was able to communicate again, was released out of Intensive Care and the doctors marveled at his quick recovery.
When I thought of what God was showing me, I was awestruck. I believe He gave me a glimpse of what eternity will bring. God knew that I was devastated after my sister passed because I had believed in her being healed. I recently recalled a memory of her last hospital stay where she began talking to people who had died, and I remembered her saying “I didn’t know it would be like this”. At the time I thought she was referring to all of her suffering. But now God has allowed me to understand that she was seeing heaven in all its glory and was marveling at what she saw. It was at that moment that I finally had the peace to let her go and to really be grateful that she was no longer suffering.
So when I think of “dress rehearsal for eternity” I think of where I want to spend eternity. I, like most people want to live a good life while I am here on this earth but I am more concerned with not losing my soul. God’s plan is for us to live our lives to glorify Him. It grieves the Holy Spirit when we treat others bad and make excuses for why we dislike one another. While we are in this earthly body we need to understand that in heaven, race, economic standing, education, and all the other things we feel through our sensory mechanisms will not play a role. Where will you spend eternity? You are in the dress rehearsal for it now.
