THE GANG

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

We all have dreams that interrupt our sleep at one time or another. Sometimes they are pure nonsense, strange or funny, but sometimes they are given by God to communicate to us a spiritual truth. I want to share with you one of those dreams that God gave to me once. This one was more of the convicting type. I share it with you, hoping it will challenge you in your own spiritual walk with your Savior Jesus Christ.

 

~~~

 

A father is busy at work in his study at home. His daughter enters the room and informs him that there are some people at the door. The father asks her what they want. She says that she would feel better if he asked them, as they make her feel uncomfortable.

 

The father curiously gets up out of his chair and proceeds to the door. When he opens the door, before him stand three teenage boys. They are poorly dressed and ill kept in appearance. They are expressionless and appear nervous. The father asks what he can do for them. One of them responds by asking for a handout of money or food. He shares that they live on the streets and often have to beg for a living. The father is hesitant to help, suspecting that they could easily get jobs if they wished, but decides to help by giving them some food. He offers them some sandwiches he and his family were going to have for lunch as well as some soda pop. They take the food and drink. He says that he will pray for them and their needs. They leave and offer a quiet thank you.

The next day the doorbell rings. The daughter answers the door and again goes to her father. She shares that the boys are back and they want to talk to him. She also adds that there are more of them this time. The father goes to the door and greets them. The original teens are there with four more of their friends. He asks if they need food. They say that they are fine, but are curious to know more about the God he mentioned the other day. They want to ask some questions about the Bible.

 

The father is caught a little off guard. He was expecting more begging, but now has a captive audience with which to share the gospel. The father goes out on the steps and sits down with the teenagers. They begin asking questions about Jesus. They want to know who he was and things he did. The father attempts to answer their questions as best he can.

 

As the father is sharing with the boys, for some reason, he becomes concerned for the security of his house and his daughter inside. What if this is a gang? What if there are more of them? What if these gang members are diverting his attention, while the others are breaking into the rear door of his house?

The father continues to share the gospel, while attempting to decide what to do. He first thinks he should halt the discussion and go inside to make sure his daughter is safe. Possibly he should excuse himself, go lock his back door, then come back and continue witnessing? The father is confused about what to do, so he prays. He prays that God will continue to give him the words to share with the young boys, but also that God will show him what he should do about his concerns. God answers him. God tells him that if he will continue to share the gospel, He will take care of everything.

 

While the father continues to witness to the boys about Jesus, little did he know his concerns were valid? Four other boys are approaching the back steps of his house. They are armed with various tools for breaking in and burglary. First the young boys test the door handle to see if it will open. It is locked. They attempt to pick the lock with no luck. Next, they attempt to use a crow bar to pry the door open. They all get behind the large steel rod and push with all their strength. The door should have flown open or the wood should have splintered in pieces, but nothing happens. They take a hammer and chisel and attempt to remove the hinges, but nothing budges. They are mystified as to what to do. They decide they should use the gun they have, to shoot the lock mechanism of the door. That’s when they see something amazing.

 

As they ready the gun, and aim it at the door, a bright light appears above them. They cover their eyes, squinting upward. Above them hovers what appears to be a person. They think it is an angel, but this person has no wings. In their minds, angels usually have wings. The person is dressed in the whitest clothes they had ever seen. They drop their tools, as well as the gun. They are afraid. The person above them looks down with eyes of sympathy. They are frozen still, as they wonder what will happen next. The person floating above them tells them to go away. The young boys do not argue. They leave their belongings behind and run as fast as they can. One boy looks back, but the angelic person is no longer there. He doesn’t stop running.

 

Back on the front porch, the father is continuing to share God’s word with his teenage audience. It has been quite some time now and they seem like they are getting nervous. A few of them, including what appears to be the leader, still show interest in what he was sharing.

 

Finally the leader shares he must be going and takes his followers off down the street. The father rushes back into the house. He finds his daughter sleeping peacefully on the living room couch.

 

The father walks towards the back door and notices the door is unlocked. He turns the doorknob and looks outside. Lying on the steps are screwdrivers, hammers, a crow bar and a small caliber gun. He is confused at first, and then he realizes that his fears had been valid. His faith in God grew at that moment. God had protected him, his daughter and his home so he could share the gospel. He was glad he had trusted God. What a great God!

 

A few days later the doorbell rings and the father answers this time. Before him stands the leader of the gang of teenagers. He is alone.

 

He shares that his name is Jack and that he wants to accept Christ as his Savior.

 

~~~

 

This dream was unsettling in some ways for me.

Would I have been able to do what this father had done?

Would I have trusted God to protect my family while I served Him?

 

We all might ask ourselves this question.

 

How strong is our faith when tested in everyday life?

 

I can only hope and pray that God will give me the faith and courage to do what needs to be done to serve Him as I go about my daily life.

 

I know that God gives us the power to do things we would never normally do as long as we are willing to trust and obey Him.

 

 

2 Thessalonians 3:3

“…the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

 

James 1:2‑4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

 

James 2:24

“You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”

 

Philemon 1:6

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”