It was just fifteen months since I received one of the most vivid dreams of my lifetime. In the dream my wife Susan and I were walking this path through a wooded area we were both unfamiliar with when we came to a clearing. Up ahead was a small resort type building next to a small lake. When we ventured inside there were two elderly women behind a desk that asked us if were were there for our boat. I replied, “what boat.” They replied back, “that one” pointing out the large picture window towards the lake.
We suddenly viewed this very large thirteenth to fifteenth century “U” shaped structured boat free floating boat that looked like the Mayflower. The ancient looking “U” boat was carried to and fro by the wind. The women replied, “Yes, you bought it for $139.00. As we ran down towards the lake side, we jumped into a much smaller modern row boat to get a closer look. As we got a closer look at the massive “U” boat up close i remembered the ladies saying, “It had been free floating on this lake for what we were told, hundreds of years.
Now that we were close to it the boat appeared to be 60 feet high or higher, very weathered with no paint or sails. It was wind driven and seemed to bump into everything as it mysteriously went it’s way. It appeared abandoned and had apparently been so for hundreds of years. It seemed out of place, not being on the ocean where it seemed to belong but rather on this small lake in the middle of nowhere. We could not seem to get on board as it moved so erratic and fast on the waves. We chased the structured mighty cargo or warship back and forth across the lake as it occasionally bumped into a peninsula or rocky area unscathed and continued on its way in another direction.
As I awoke I was puzzled as to the dreams meaning and what the ship and the purchase price of $139.00 represented. It wasn’t until fifteen months later that I believe I received the interpretation. I believe the ancient “U” shaped ship represented God in the dream. This ship was meant for the vast ocean but here it was on an inland freshwater lake. In the same manner God, the creator of the entire universe searches the earth to and fro for a heart perfect towards him. He leaves behind the vastness of his creation to be amongst us.
This ships irregularities, bumping into things reflects the foolishness of God. The Apostle Paul speaks about the foolishness of God being wiser then men. Yet it is this bumping into things of this ancient ship that reflects God love and long suffering waiting for mankind to get on board in his plans and purposes. He remains this larger than life ocean vessel on this small inland freshwater body of water waiting for us out of love. But he will not be waiting forever. He will one day take those who seek him and get on board with him.
The price of $139.00 I had always looked at as a whole number which was incorrect. I began to look at the figures individually. The number 1 represents the the Old Testament verse that states, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One.” The number 3 in the amount $139.00 represents the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The number 9 of this figure represents my wife and I in the dream but I think it is bigger then just the two of us. The number 9 is used in the scriptures to establish the man or woman to be complete in the grace of God and in the fullness of the power of God. This call is to be perfected and prepared to be a vessel of honor before being divinely completed by God. I believe this is the call of the church to be complete in him. It was in the ninth hour that Jesus pronounced, “It is finished!”. Getting on board with him who waits is our pivotal moment of transformation and culmination in Christ. He is our ship of secrets, with secret treasures within himself.
Isaiah 45:3, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”