Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July/84

Contributor - Mrs. H. Van Farowe

Title - Dreams, Can You Trust Them?

Topic - Women

Tom was impressed by recurring dreams ... were they benevolent spirits ... were they angels of light?

True Christians must test the spirits and feelings they have because there are many spirits in the world. We need discernment as a spiritual gift. I was reminded of this recently by a magazine article and a letter from a friend in prison.

I correspond with a prisoner in Louisville, Kentucky. He is, I think, a true Christian. He wrote to tell me that he has had recurring dreams with men in them who speak to him. They speak of "searching and being myself, of caring, of oneness with the universe and oneness of souls".

"It moved me to the point of concern," he says, "These three strangers are kind of humble, yet I sense power. And ! mean a power of things which I'm afraid even to wonder. They spoke of me soon joining them. Of being part of them." He called it "scary". One dream became violent, yet Tom hopes for good from these dream people.

"I've been thinking all day that these men may be from heaven. But I cannot seem to get why? Today they spoke with voices like rivers and said, 'read', and the next minute I woke and for once I could read my Bible again."

You see how Tom's good feelings after the dreams make him think the messengers have come with light. I feel that this prisoner, Tom, is being deceived with what Scripture calls 'lying wonders', Jeremiah 23:32 speaks of false dreams that deceived people in his day.

I wrote Tom to tell him he should beware of being persuaded by his own good interpretations. Satan is known to look pretty neat when dressed in light. He is not really light at all, but he can give a good feeling and impressions of benevolence to people.

I read in the Ladies Home Journal of a movie star who had contact with spirit mediums. She is persuaded that a certain 'light' will protect her from robbery and rape and such evils. "I've set this kind of spiritual light around my house and trust it will dispel negative intentions."

God alone is 'Light' and there is no darkness in Him. Though Satan is capable of putting on a little light, he really is darkness. The movie entertainer I read about in the Journal has changed her definition of what was dark and light. She says that she had decided there is no I absolute right or wrong'.

She began life in a Baptist home, so she could know that the reason God is against these 'spiritual' contacts is not because they are not real, but because they lead far into the darkness of untruth, not into the light of truth. We have not heard of the final chapters of Shirley MacLaine's life. I predict that she will discover more of darkness than she expects.

But back to Tom and his re-discovered desire to read the Bible. Tom and all of us should not be swayed by our own good feelings of light, love or oneness with the universe. We go too much by feelings. Saul, when he contacted Samuel through the psychic at Endor, had bad feelings. So what? We are not dependent on feelings. You are not a new creature in Christ Jesus because you feel peaceful or joyful or loving. If you are a new creature, it is because you are justified by the blood of Jesus and that is an accomplished fact if you feel happy today. It is still accomplished in Christ though you may doubt and become depressed tomorrow.

And, if you are bothered in dreams as my friend was, maybe you will have to say, "Get behind me, Satan." But sometimes it is not safe to rebuke Satan on your own. Jude says that the angel Michael had to say, "The Lord rebuke you." (Jude 9) Claim the name of the Lord as your ultimate protection. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Read the Psalms and get yourself into the cement fortress that the Lord is to those who trust in Him. The name of the Lord is a strong place for any of us who fear the principalities and powers of the evil one.

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