Not a dream

https://odb.org/MY/2023/05/23/not-a-dream

The story of Peter’s escape from jail described in Acts 12 happened approximately 3 years after Paul’s conversion. The Apostle James, the brother of John, was already put to death by sword then by Herod, and Peter was awaiting trial in jail being chained with two guards at his sides and with two others standing guard outside his cell. Peter was, of course, inside a prison building with various other locked doors and gates.

Despite such security and locks, an angel appeared before Peter and brought him out of the jail safely, opening but not breaking, all the chains and locks along the way until he was out in the street, miraculosly without alerting any of the guards and sentries.

Peter described it as if it was a dream or vision. Reading the story, it felt as though everyone in the prison was under a kind of spell, except that it was not of occultic but heavenly origin.

Sometimes, when we go through some very good times, we want to pinch ourselves to see whether we are dreaming or if we are really experiencing those times? This experience is called “derealisation” or “depersonalisation” and, if chronic, is regarded as a disorder. But it is quite a common mental health condition usually induced by stress. I recall that I had experienced this before when I was involved in preparing my previous company for IPO twenty years back. The long hours made us feel as though we were living in a dream.

As believers, if we are experiencing good times, praise the Lord and thank Him for His goodness. When the heavens open, His blessings can be tremendous and overwhelming as His grace is overflowing from the brim. Even kings and rulers of old sought such divine intervention in the lives of their nations. The LORD was with Joseph, and He prospered Joseph, and the Pharoah who sought his counsel benefited from God’s wisdom in him and saved his nation from the 7-year severe famine.

Christian life is not a bed of roses, as we often hear. There are trials and tribulations, hardship, and suffering. Many had faced death and torture, and many had been martyred for the faith. Therefore, if we are going through a patch of goodness, rejoice with joy that the LORD is opening the heavens to us! But even as we enjoy the glory of His presence and bask in the abundance of His blessings, always remember that to God, His work always comes first. Continue to serve Him with all our hearts and see how we may, in turn, bless His work and His faithful and fervent servants.