"WILLING to DIE?"
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
"PAYING the ULTIMATE PRICE"
-by Kerry Denten
[ http://www.kerrydenten.com ]
I would like to share a vision I had when I came across the story
of Veronica Guerin.
Veronica Guerin was an Irish journalist who was brutally murdered
in 1996 at the culmination of an investigative report into organised
drug running and crime operations in Ireland.
The twelve months after Veronica Guerin's death saw a series of
remarkable changes in Ireland. One week after her death, the Irish
government ratified a constitutional change allowing the freezing
and seizure of illicitly gained assets resulting from crime. Over
the twelve months following Mrs Guerin's death, there was an
astounding galvanising of the people of Dublin that resulted in
almost all of the drug dealers in that city being driven out by
ordinary people while the main drug bosses were driven under-
ground and their operations were significantly hampered. Almost
all of the people involved in Mrs Guerin's death were apprehended
and brought to justice while having their assets seized... and
overall, there was a 15% drop in crime nationwide.
I was left deeply pondering why it always seems to be that one
person has to pay such a high price for so many others to find a
way through to a new experience of life. How many times across
history have we seen this happen? One person makes the sacrifice
and it seem to be the catalyst that triggers sweeping change for
countless men and women.
I was moved to tears as I considered the pain being experienced
by any individual in their quest to fulfill the thing that burns in their
heart. I was overtaken by the pain and confusion that the individual's
loved ones are left with in the wake of them paying the highest
price of all for the sake of their quest.
I was left asking the Lord why that is. Why does an individual have
to pay such a high price?
As I was pondering this concept, the Lord overtook me with a vision
of what's really going on behind the scenes ....
Suddenly I saw a small company of angels assigned to stand very
close protective guard over the person chosen to pay such a price.
These angels are commanded by the Lord to pay any price to
protect their charge. The one they are protecting must arrive at the
moment where the ultimate price can be paid .. for the good of all
those who are to benefit from their sacrifice.
In my vision I became aware of an increasing clamour as the angels
war to defend their charge with all vehemence to ensure he or she
makes it through to the end. The enemy is not deterred. He knows
what it will look like if he loses to God's intent through this individual.
The enemy presses in harder, looking for weak spots. The angelic
company close ranks to ensure that their charge makes it through.
The enemy pushes harder. The clash of weaponry in the Spirit is
deafening .. the roar of the Heavenly host intensifies as they spur
on the Lord's chosen one ... "don't give up, you must make it to
the end" they cry .. and suddenly, the timing is right... both history
and destiny collide in a moment .. the Lord's goal is achieved and
at the same moment, a gun shot .. the price has been paid .. all
of heaven gasps .. the great cloud of witnesses holds their breath ..
"how will the people respond to the price that's been paid for
them?" .. "will it all be worth this individual's training?" .. "will the
people run with the opportunity that's been given to them?" .. "will
the Lord's orchestration of their life be worth it?
For therein lies the truth of the matter .. even though the angelic
company was "defending" their charge, the fact is, they were meant
to ensure that at just the right moment, the price was indeed paid
by that individual .. even their life. This is why the Scripture says
that "costly is death of His saints", because much has been invested
into bringing them to the point where they would demonstrate their
love for others by being willing to lay down their lives in the fulfilment
of a plan much bigger than themselves .. but at any moment they
may choose to say, "it's all too hard, I can't go on, I'm outta here!"
Along the journey, they may not have understood what it was that
was driving them. Oh, they could try to explain it as a passion for
justice, a determination to make a difference, a commitment to
changing the status quo .. but what even they may not have known
is that it was God who had invested Himself into them all along, in
the hope that they would make it to the end in order to see the
goal achieved, the battle won.
.. and here's the most shocking thing for me about this whole experience ..
God will ensure that the price is paid one way or the other and, if
He can't find a believer to follow Him, He will find an unbeliever who
He can trust to at least see out the task to the end.
Perhaps next time you are confused by your circumstances and
yet feeling driven to pursue your goal come what may, you might
stop and consider whether you too have been chosen for one of
those moments when history and destiny might collide for the
good of many who will come after you. If so, pay the price. We are with you!
~Kerry Denten.