This beautiful, grand mosque was an empty tomb because the people who had once worshipped there were now made alive in Christ. This mosque was merely a skeleton of the religion they once followed.
A week before my pre-field training was over, I thought I would be flying home for two weeks and then hopping on a plane to SE Asia. I was SOOOO excited to meet my host family, start language school, and explore the new culture. I was raring to go, but then the leader of our organization walked in and solemnly told us the visa laws had changed so we would no longer be able to leave as soon as we had hoped. Tears flowed down my cheeks and my mind spun with a million questions.
What am I supposed to do now? Am I still supposed to go to SE Asia? Is there another location or organization I should go with? After all this time and preparation, is this door being closed? I was desperately grasping for answers and an alternate plan that would get me into the country as soon as possible.
Back at the AirBnb, I went into my room and bowed on the floor in prayer. I laid my questions before the Lord and sat in silence, waiting to hear from Him. He showed me two things.
The first thing He showed me was the door with the sticky note that said ‘SE Asia’ (this is what my first blog was about: read it here). I was well acquainted with this door because I had been knocking at it for 2.5 years. This time the door was open and I could see what lay beyond the door, but there was an additional screen door that kept me from walking through. Yet again, I was invited to continue knocking at the SE Asia door.
The second thing He showed me was super neat! I could see myself bowing in my room, except it wasn’t my room. There was a prayer carpet beneath me and I realized I was in a mosque. In my vision, I stood up and looked around the mosque. I was standing in the center of a beautiful, grand mosque--the ceiling towered above me, the walls and floor were a sparkly white and grey marble, and the arches were decorated with gold leaf. It was pristine. I then looked around me for the people who were presumably worshipping and praying to Allah...but no one was there. It didn’t make sense. The floor should have been covered with people bowing in prayer. The incantations should have filled the room. There should have been a shuffle of life, but instead I was alone in that hollow, expansive room. I was so confused and spun around in circles asking “Where are all the people?” I heard the spirit say, “They are not here. The mosque is empty because they are no longer here.” CHILLS. This beautiful, grand mosque was an empty tomb because the people who had once worshipped there were now made alive in Christ. This mosque was merely a skeleton of the religion they once followed.
Tears come to my eyes as I write this. I have so much hope for my fellow brothers and sisters who are still walking in darkness. I believe Jesus can and will empty mosques. In fact, I know He already has emptied mosques!!! I hope to join this Kingdom movement soon. For now, I will pray and learn the language as I continue to knock at the ‘SE Asia’ door.
Will you join me in praying for Jesus to reveal himself to Muslims and for whole mosques to become followers of Jesus?
With hope,
Liv :)