November 2000
(Used by permission.)
I saw a large living room about thirty feet across with a highly polished marble floor. The only visible piece of furniture was a heavy, polished marble coffee table. I was looking at the room from the back and at a height of about ten feet. In the wall in front of me was a large opening which could have had French doors, but I did not see them as the doorway was open and gave out onto a wide flagstone paved terrace with a curved stone balustrade. To my right I sensed the presence of Father God sitting on something high, if a throne, not a large one.
I recall thinking that it was odd that God would have a house, no matter if large, but as I could see the view beyond the terrace, perhaps this was His mountain retreat. The house was at the head of a valley and I could see mountain slopes covered with evergreen trees on both sides. Surely, I thought, God would be in His throne room surrounded by millions of people, the angelic host and so on. What's He doing here?
Then I saw a six- or seven-year old boy running around the room exploring, obviously excited at his first visit to the house and quite content to be in the presence of the Father. I sensed the Father looking on with loving acceptance. As I continued to look I realized that the boy was me. Then the boy was gone and I saw a one-year old baby pulling himself up by the coffee table and losing balance as babies do and sitting down with a thump. The Father was amused and delighted with the antics of the toddler who I realized was me, also.
Although I was an observer of the scene it did not seem strange to see myself and I spoke to the Father. "What a beautiful house You have, Father." (Unspoken was the thought that God's throne room should be in a huge place with room for millions and I don't understand why He would be in this house.) The Father replied with a laugh, "No, Michael, this is not My house, it is the home I have prepared for you." I was completely taken by surprise and overwhelmed by God's remarks. A week, or so later He explained that I could not see Him because He is enthroned in my heart. Yes, His place is on His heavenly throne in the great throne room, but He is also in the heart of every believer and thus He is able to participate firsthand, as it were, in the joy that His children experience. In the scene that I viewed, He delighted in the excitement, trust and unquestioned acceptance of the young boy and in the antics of the baby, completely dependent on Him.
On a later occasion - refers to the heavenly home
"Michael, you are My child despite your years, like a young child beginning to grow into a knowledge and love of Me. How precious you are to Me. Child, I showed you a picture of yourself as four or five years old running around exploring the living room in your heavenly mansion. "
(A week or so before the Lord had given me a picture of the living room of a house in heaven. It was spacious with a polished marble floor and large open doors that gave access to a wide, curved, flagstone-covered terrace with a stone balustrade. The view was of tree-covered mountains and a valley below. The Father was present, seated on a raised place just out of my sight. I saw myself in the room as a young child.)
The Lord continued, "That child was unrestrained in My presence, not over-awed, but trusting, loving and accepting My presence. It was natural for that child to expect Me to be there. In that child's mind I belonged fully. You were aware that I was on a throne, but you could not see it, because it was the throne of your heart. The child was completely secure, without any feeling of condemnation or rejection, and expected Me to be there for him. That is what I want you to learn. You were surprised when you asked about the mansion. No, My child is was not My house. Have I not just told you that I am on the throne of your heart? The mansion was made for you in all its splendor, with the mountain setting; custom made with My own hands for your enjoyment. You see, I shall enjoy it also, because I shall experience the wonder, joy, delight and amazement of a child's heart.
"I do have a different throne and that is not in your house, it is in My throne room which you shall see in due course. There, I am reigning in splendor over all, but in your heart and the hearts of all believers there I am loving, caring, giving to each of My children."
