Who Did You Bring?

While you slept last night, more than 51,000 people died.

Perhaps your mind is scrambling right now trying to remember what news story I’m talking about — what tragedy could have possibly claimed so many lives. No, what I’m talking about didn’t make the news, because approximately 51,000 people die every night around the world while you and I sleep. And that’s just one third of the 153,000 people who die on average each day on this planet.

Think about that. 153,000 people slip into eternity every single day. In fact, about 500 people will step from this life into… heaven or hell… by the time you finish reading this post.

The reality of this really gripped me several years ago after experiencing what can only be described as the most vivid dream I have ever had in my life. It was also the most terrifying dream I’ve ever had — not in a Hollywood-induced “Friday the 13th” sense, but on a level so deep that it struck the very core of my entire existence like a lightning bolt.

Honestly, I’m not big on the whole “dream” thing. I certainly know, according to the Scriptures, that God can and has used dreams to speak directly to people. So I would never rule that out. But I also know this is a topic that has been overused by some who claim to get a fresh “word of knowledge” nightly, or at least every other Tuesday. So for obvious reasons, I’m more than a little hesitant to share this personal dream with people, but in this case, I think I need to. I did share it only once before in a different setting, but have never spoken publicly about it since. Not until now, that is.

This dream actually happened, as I said, several years ago, but the memory of it has lingered ever since. I can’t seem to shake it; not that I would really want to. It has become for me a rather odd companion along my journey, reminding me of the brevity of life and the realities of eternity. The only reason I bring this dream up now is because, while searching for something on my computer yesterday, I opened the wrong file and “rediscovered” what I had written shortly after 5:00AM on the morning this dream occurred. I had been so deeply rattled by the seeming reality of this dream, that I awoke from it in a panic and stumbled into my office to write it down. What follows is what I wrote that morning… certainly not the greatest thing anyone has ever written, but it was my best attempt to capture the moment. Perhaps it will, in some way, linger with you as it has with me.

The Dream

There I was in heaven, standing before Jesus, surrounded by the most beautiful warmth and light I have ever experienced. Jesus beamed with joy when he saw me and said, “I’m so glad you’re here! Welcome home, my sweet child. I know how excited you must have been to be a follower of mine during your lifetime. I know that your gratitude for having me die in your place must have been so overwhelming that you probably told everyone you met about me. Why, there must be a whole throng of people you brought with you to heaven! So tell me, how many did you bring with you? I can’t wait to find out. I remember you put your faith in me when you were young, and you were a follower of mine for many years. Oh, you must have told a lot of people about me during that time. Well, don’t keep me waiting any longer. Tell me, how many did you bring? 50? 100? 200?” His voice was filled with childlike excitement.

There was a long silence… the longest silence I have ever endured. I stared at the floor, too ashamed to look up. “None,” I said at last. I felt my face flush red.

Jesus leaned forward, “I’m sorry, I must have misunderstood. It sounded like you said… none. But I know that can’t be right. Why, I remember when you got your first new car. You were so proud, you told everyone about that. You even took all your friends for a ride in it. And I remember how excited you were when your first child was born. You called everybody you knew to share the good news. You spent a small fortune on long distance phone calls describing every tiny detail of your precious new baby to all your friends and relatives who lived out of town and overseas. You probably remember how expensive that phone bill was when it arrived, but you didn’t mind a bit because you were so proud of your new baby that the cost seemed like nothing to you. You even repeated the whole process all over again when your second child was born. Not to mention all the other special events than happened in your life… like the time your little boy hit his first home run, or the day your little girl got the lead in the school play. And what about when they graduated from college? And let’s not even get started on the day your first grandchild was born. Those were some exciting moments! I remember them so well. But for some reason, I’m having trouble remembering all the times you got so excited about me that you couldn’t wait to tell everyone you knew. Funny thing, it’s not like me to forget, but I just can’t seem to recall those times in your life. But I know none of those other events could ever compare with your excitement of coming to know me as your Lord and Savior and having your sins washed away by the blood that I shed for you on the cross. Oh, I was so happy to take all your sin and punishment upon me so that you could go free, and I do remember how happy you were the day you accepted me into your life, so I know you must have told a lot of people about me. After all, who could keep such good news locked away inside, right? So tell me, really now, how many people did you bring with you? Maybe I was a bit too hasty before. Why sure, 50 people is far too many. Perhaps 10?”

Tears now filled my eyes and began to stream down my face.

“Five?”

I was suddenly overcome with sadness so intense that I could no longer stand. My knees buckled and I fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Two? Did… did you bring two?”

“I’m sorry, Lord! I’m so sorry!”

His voice now sank into a whisper, and cracked slightly as he spoke. “No one? You didn’t bring anyone with you?” There was not the slightest hint of anger or condemnation in His voice. He seemed to be asking purely from the deepest longings of a Father looking for His children.

I finally looked up. “Lord, I’m so sorry. I was too afraid to speak up. I was afraid of what people might say. There were even times when I was…” I paused. A lump was forming in my throat, almost choking back the words. “There were even times when I was…  embarrassed and ashamed of You. I’m sorry, Lord. I’m so sorry! If you’ll just give me another chance, I promise I’ll bring someone to you. I promise I’ll… I’ll…”

As I spoke the words, everything began to grow hazy, almost like looking through a fog. The beauty of heaven grew blurry. I wasn’t sure what was happening. “Lord,” I cried out, “One more chance! Just one more chance!”

All at once I sat straight up in a cold sweat. My heart was pounding. My mouth was dry; I was gasping for each breath. Where was I? What just happened?

As I blinked my eyes, I slowly started recognizing my surroundings. I was in my own bedroom. It was all a dream. It was just a dream… or was it?