Old Dog I
The Vision of the Road
Bob Neumann
On the late morning on Monday 3/16/98, resting and listening to a worship tape by Don Potter I suddenly found myself in a very strange vision.
I was walking down a wide path in complete darkness; there was a solid luminescence to the path itself. I could see my steps clearly and I could pick out the brightest area for each step. Before me and to either side was just pitch dark farther than maybe 3 feet. And in my mind I began to hear the song “THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH”. And the verse about the steps of a righteous man came to mind most clearly. So having a strong confirming WORD and a “SONG OF DELIVERANCE” I knew that I had to follow where THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT desired to lead. So knowing no better I began to sing “THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION.” which is from psalm 27. And the path got brighter! I began to notice others on the road but they did not appear to notice when I waved or called out greetings. So I kept walking where the path was brightest. And although I periodically got very close to others the still could not see me.
After a while I had this closed in feeling. And I briefly stopped and looked to either side. And it seemed there was walls to either side of the road my path was on. After a time I realized there were sheer cliffs to either side that went up quite a ways. And suddenly I started to hear noise to one side and then the other. As I tried to veer to the left the brightness of the path faded. When I backtracked the brightness returned and my path was obvious. So as I walked the commotions to either side increased the road began a sweeping curve and I found the path swerve to the left side of the road.
As I came to the far-left edge I began to hear words out of the noise. And suddenly I saw a man standing off the road and he was saying. “The road is long and I know you’re tired. Stop and rest a while”. And I felt the urge to see what this was. But as soon as I stepped toward the edge the “LIGHT” vanished. And I am not talking about fading. >And I remember a single clear thought come into my head when I found myself in darkness. “Oh, no!”. And I jumped back in utter panic thinking I am cut off from THE LIGHT. But as soon as I was back the LIGHT WAS. And it was brighter.
And the line from Job about fleeing temptation seared through my spirit. At this point I knew there was something here for me to understand. And for the first time in this vision I heard the SPIRIT say something. And it was “LOOK”. And now I could see the entice (the title was out of my spirit most clearly) and there were people getting off the road and sitting. And suddenly I knew I was seeing the warning of PSALM 1 not being heeded.
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
With this revelation I could see the mountain rising above the road and the outline of a city at the top. As I wondered about it I felt a sudden urge to begin walking again. And now the path veered to the right edge and there was a man standing and he called out. ”all who are weary and heavy burdened, come unto me and I will give you rest”. So cautiously I stepped toward the edge and again was in darkness. So with confidence I stepped back into the light and again my sight increased. Here too others had gotten off the road and were sitting. And above them I saw the outline of a city.
Again the path turned to the left and now the city above the road was lit up. There was a well-dressed man of mature years and he said “we are the city of light, the source of all illumination, join us and get understanding.” And again many were sitting along the roadside listening.
Now the path turned right and there was a man in a three-piece suit and a big book in his hand. And he was preaching. ”WE are the light of the world.”, and someone turned the lights of that city on. Their timing was good; if you like scripted effect. He was still preaching to a fast growing crowd when I turned with the path.
And I went back and forth from left to right as a sailboat tacks against the wind to travel upstream. The left side had some great sounding blues music that seemed to come out of nowhere above loaded banquet tables. “The food is great and the booze is flowing. Come on and party!!!” There were people laughing and playing. When I came to the right it seemed the same song was playing but the tempo had changed. There were tables filled with people and they were laughing and playing. And I heard “there is still room. We have the best bread and the new wine”.
As I continued to travel the road narrowed steadily. And what I would find on the left repeated immediately to the right. But there are two parallels worth mentioning. In time as the road narrowed the path skirted the very edge. On the left was a young man and he said. “They don’t appreciate you over there” as he pointed to the right side.”They don’t know the power you have.” and he called me by name. He could see me. All the earlier temptation were generalized and broadcasted to all on the road. “Join us and you will be recognized and have all the things you have been denied”. As I walked away he continued to promise things I had wanted to leave behind years ago.
It seemed in only a few steps I was passing a young man on the right who called out “Brother Bob, thank GOD you finally got here. We’ve been waiting for you.” I looked at him and said. YOU’RE NOT ON THE ROAD. He smiled and said “your journey is over, it is time to stop wandering and be of service.” And I remember the hurt in his eyes as I kept walking in the LIGHT.
Next on the left was an attractive woman, mature and refined. I was so close she could reach out and touch my arm, which she did. And with the most sultry voice imaginable she offered. And I wanted to run but my feet would not move in my spirit I cried out “LORD I DON’T WANT THIS.” And the VOICE of the MOST HOLY SPIRIT said LISTEN, WATCH, LEARN. As I watched her and listened the offerings of enticement increased. And I watched as her form changed. The clothing became enticing, the face younger, the figure voluptuous. Skin tones changed, eyes and features changed. “What ever you can imagine I can give you.” With that she began to expose herself and worse. Suddenly my feet were free and I walked rapidly. All of three steps. And on my right was an attractive woman, mature and refined. she too touched my arm. “You are the SENT ONE and there is nothing we will not do to please you”. And she too began to morph. And I understood that it was the same spirit. Suddenly to my right and to my left was the woman/demon, mirroring each other. And I yelled, “shut up”. And suddenly I had a pair of twin gargoyles spitting curses at me. And for the first time on this “journey” I felt comfortable. And again I began to sing from my spirit and my two ‘companions’ sort of faded into the darkness.
And I resumed my walk. And the road shrank to the path of light as the walls brushed my shoulders and I began to sing “IN YOUR PRESENCE.THAT’S WHERE I AM STRONG.IN YOUR PRESENCE OH LORD, MY GOD.” I was in the ‘cleft of the rock’. And suddenly I stepped into GLORY. And before me HE again stood and just smiled. And with that odd sort of twinkle in HIS EYES HE asked. “HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?”
And I had to laugh. “It wasn’t what I think it was, was it?” With almost a theatric sigh HE sort of leaned to the side as to be looking at something and stated. “YOU NEVER LOOKED BEHIND YOU DID YOU?” and with HIS HAND on my shoulder I turned back and saw this vast line of people that had been walking behind me.
That is the vision. The final discussion I appeared to have with the KING OF GLORY I was told not to write at this time.
Nor to comment beyond this narration.
Selah
Bob in Miami