Fall
2006
The
Door to God’s Heart
Gabriel Hoffman
I saw the Lord Jesus come to me. He said, “Come, Father
has something special for you.” Excited, I followed
my Lord and Savior to the throne room. Father God was there
in all His majestic glory. He greeted me with a smile. “Son,”
He said, “It is time for you to choose your life and
ministry.”
“Really?” I responded with joy and amazement.
“Oh, Father! This is the day I have been waiting, preparing,
and praying for. Is it really time?”
“Yes, My son. It is time. But you must choose wisely,
for this will be your life’s work.”
Then I remembered that He was Lord of my life. “But
Father, what is your will for me?” He smiled. “Son,
I’ve prepared you to serve me in any number of ministries.
The choice is yours. Truly I give you the freedom to choose
from the set of options I have prepared for you. Any of them
will please Me as long as you are faithful in how you carry
them out. Do you understand?”
“Yes Father.” I replied, still too stunned to
say anything more. Father took me to a great golden door and
led me through. It opened to a corridor curving gently downhill
and to the left. In the corridor stood a number of tables,
each with an object on it. Beside each table was a door that
exited the hallway.
“My dear son,” said Father, “We will go
to each table and I will explain the ministerial gift and
call you may choose. I will answer any questions you have.
At any point, you may choose an option and exit through the
appropriate door into your ministry and My happiness.”
“Yes Father, I am ready to begin.” The first
table was covered in bright green velvet and held a bottle
of oil. Over the doorway was inscribed, “HEALING.”
I looked questioningly at the Father. “This is the ministry
of healing. The green table represents health and life. The
bottle is the healing oil of the Holy Spirit. In this ministry
you will have power to touch people in spirit, soul and body
and bring My healing to many.”
I thought to myself, “This would be great! Oh the aching
hearts and broken bodies I could touch. The glory that would
be brought to Jesus by this!” Yet, something in my heart
tugged at me. “Father! This would be wonderful, but….”
“But I feel you have something even more important
for me.” He smiled and led me to the next table. As
we walked to the next table, I noticed how the carpet looked
worn in front of the door of Healing. I asked Father about
this. “Many have chosen this door. Those who were faithful
brought great glory to the Kingdom and pleasure to Me. Those
who abused the gift brought shame to us and themselves.”
The next table was made of electric blue azure. On it laid
a wooden staff. Over the doorway was inscribed “MIRACLES”
in blazing letters. As we stopped in front of the table, Father
spoke. “The blue represents My power. On the table is
Elijah’s staff. With it you can have tremendous power
with man and nature. You can do supernatural acts for Me.”
The Staff of Elijah! I had long admired his power, and his
mighty exploits for God. And yet, that longing inside my heart
was not satisfied. “This would be tremendous, my Lord,
but somehow, my heart yearns for something deeper, and more
lasting.” I thought I caught a glimmer of approval on
Father’s face as He said, “Very well, shall we
go on?”
I nodded. We went around the curved corridor until I could
no longer see the door by which we entered. Next we came to
a table of black marble shot through with white. Over the
doorway “PROPHECY” was written in bold block letters
on a pure white background. On the table was a worn pair of
sandals. As we stopped in front of the table, Father spoke
again.
“The colors represent the nature of prophecy. The prophet
clearly sets forth the light of the Truth in a world darkened
by lies. The sandals belonged to John the Baptist. In this
ministry, you would be my oracle to those of the world.”
“Prophecy?!” I thought to myself. “That
would be outstanding. I’ve always longed to speak the
very words of God. There are so many lies going around the
world and even in the Church. There is a desperate need for
true prophets in these last days.”
Still, the tugging in my heart did not cease. In fact, it
grew stronger. Father smiled again in approval.
“Son, you are wise to be thoughtful about these gifts.
They are very powerful and can be quite dangerous if pursued
with a wrong heart, like carrying a large electric current
through a corroded wire. Many have used these gifts well and
have entered into My joy, but too many others have destroyed
themselves and those around them in their abuse of these gifts.
You are free to choose these, and I will work with and in
you for their proper use.”
“Thank you Father, but I desire something deeper and
closer to Your heart.”
“Closer to My heart, son? Very well, let us press on.”
As we walked farther down the corridor, I noticed two things.
First, the light was growing somewhat dimmer and second, I
could hear a faint thump-thump in the distance. It sounded
like a drum and although I wondered about it, I held my peace.
The next table was made of brightly polished brass. On it
laid a finely made trumpet. Over the doorway was written “EVANGELISM”
in letters nearly as bright as the sun.
We stopped in front of the table, and I quietly waited for
Father to explain this ministry to me. He began speaking.
“The ministry of evangelism is very special in the Kingdom.
The brass table represents My judgment against sin. The trumpet
heralds the Good News that My Son, Jesus, bore the Judgment
on behalf of mankind. The brilliant lettering is a glimpse
of the Heavenly Kingdom.”
I pondered these things silently for a moment. It would be
such a thrill to lead others to New Life in Jesus. There are
so many suffering people who need the Good News. The Lord
Jesus and the Father deserve to have more people gathered
around the Throne in worship and adoration. Does not all of
Heaven rejoice each time a sinner repents? I knew that this
ministry would bring great joy to the Father, but the tugging
on my heart grew stronger.
“Oh Father, this would be truly wonderful, but I feel
that you still have something more for me. Father, may we
go on?”
“Yes, son. The choice is yours. Let’s go to the
next table.”
We walked farther down the corridor and came to a table made
of pure white alabaster. On it were a piece of slate and chalk.
Over the doorway was written “TEACHING.”
“Son, this is also a very special ministry to the Kingdom.
There are so many in dire need of proper teaching of My true
Word; the Word as it is recorded in the scriptures and that
which is being poured forth day after day from the throne.
The white table represents the purity of the properly taught
Word. The slate and chalk represent the instruments of an
instructor of the things of God.”
This is it, I thought. “This is what I came to Bible
School for. I know the Lord has placed a call for teaching
on my heart. And, as Father said, it is desperately needed
in the body of Christ.”
I was just about to tell Father that this was the one I wanted
when I felt the tugging even stronger in my heart. I looked
down the corridor. It was dark but it seemed like the drumbeat
was coming from that direction. It wouldn’t hurt to
see what else Father had available.
“Father, this is the one that I thought was for me,
but now I’m not so sure. Can we walk a little farther?”
“Of course, my son.”
As we walked on, I noticed that the light was growing dimmer,
and the drum beating was more distinct. I asked Father about
it.
“Son, the lights are dimmer here as we descend farther
away from the more open and public ministries. As for the
drum beating, I think it is best if you discover the source
of that for yourself.”
We walked farther down the corridor and came to its end.
Three tables were set there; one on each side and one at the
end. We stopped in front of the table on the right. It was
made of pure silver and glimmered, even in the dim light.
On it was a small wooden cross. Across the doorway, written
in blood red letters, was the word “LOVE.”
“This is a deep ministry, my son. Few come this far.
The silver represents a pure reflective surface for My love
to shine upon. The cross is a symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus,
in demonstrating ultimate love to the world. The blood-colored
letters are a memorial to the blood shed there.”
“Love?” I whispered. “That is what this
hurting world needs so incredibly. There are so few who really
love with God’s true love. It would be a tremendous
privilege to carry His love where He bids.” Yet, the
longing in my heart was still not satisfied.
We turned around to see the table on the left wall. It was
made of black ebony. On it was a simple mat. Written above
the doorway was the word “INTERCESSION.” On the
door itself was this question; “Who will stand in the
gap?”
The Father spoke quietly. “The black represents the
darkness and depth of intercession. It is dark in the prayer
closet and an intercessor must be willing to go into the depths
of sin to rescue the perishing by prayer. The prayer mat is
the simple tool of the intercessor. There are so few intercessors,
son. Few people will make themselves so available to Me that
they will not despise a work which appears to be nothing while
in reality, moves the entire universe.”
“Oh Father, to be a true intercessor. To represent
man before You and represent You before man. I would so love
to be able to stand in the gap and pray your burdens for the
world. I know I would receive little earthly recognition.
I would be satisfied in knowing that I was part of your touch
in this world. But, what is the final ministry?”
We walked a short distance to stand before the final table
and door. There was very little light and the drumbeat was
quite loud. The table was made of pure gold and shined with
an inner light. On the table was a small golden altar with
incense burning. Over the doorway was written, in gold letters,
“MINISTRY UNTO GOD”
Father spoke very quietly, barely audible over the drumbeat.
“Son, this is a ministry that very, very few choose.
The gold represents divinity. The altar is one that stands
in the Heavenly tabernacle and burns fragrant incense to Me.
This ministry will not earn earthly recognition. The world
and most of the Church may think you spend your time for naught.
It is the ministry of service to Me, not to achieve anything
or affect the world but merely to be My worshipper, companion,
and friend.”
Father stood there looking quietly at the door. I could not
see His face in the dim light. I asked Him, “Father,
what is your desire?”
“Son, you are free to choose any, I rejoice in all
faithful service.”
So, I stood there quietly thinking. What did I really want
to do with my life? There are so many needs in the world and
in the Church. So few were truly faithful. I knew the workers
were few. And yet, I could not shake the growing desire in
my heart. To serve God? Nothing else; just to minister unto
Him. How many others would there be with me? Would my family
understand? What about my Church?
As I pondered all of this, I started thinking about how worthy
Father was to be worshipped and adored. That very task would
be our heavenly activity, according to the Book of Revelations.
Couldn’t a few of us start now? Then I thought of all
that Jesus had done for me on the cross.
What higher thing could I do with my life, anyway?
“Father, I choose this door, this path. Are you sure,
My son? Yes Father, quite sure. Good son, go in.”
As Father turned to face me, I could see tears streaming
down His face. I stopped in amazement. Before I could think
about it, I reached up and wiped His tears. I then realized
what I had done.
“Father, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to
be so impertinent.” He reached down and hugged me. “Son,
never be sorry for that. You have dried My tears and you will
do it many times again in this ministry. There is so much
in the world that brings Me to tears of grief. Only a few
move me to tears of joy!
With that, Father opened the door for me and motioned me
to enter. As I went in, the first thing that struck me was
the drumbeat. It was quieter in the room. I realized that
it was not a drumbeat at all, but His heart beat. Next, I
saw someone coming to embrace me. I knew just by looking at
Him that He was Jesus.
Warmly, He said, “It is wonderful to see you here.
So you have chosen to minister to the Father with Myself and
the other great people in this room. Slowly, I turned my head.
Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and many others gazed upon
me with welcoming expressions.
“With you? All of you?” I asked bewildered. “Of
course! What do you think I was doing for all of eternity
before there was any creation? I ministered unto the Father.
And now, I’m so glad that you are joining us in this
marvelous duty and alliance.
Jesus then turned to me, His expression more serious. “It
is time that I give you this precious gift.” In His
hand was a beautiful ornate golden key. I was puzzled.
Then He said, “This is the key to God’s Heart.
It allows you to have access to Him at all times. You see,
this is a Master Key. In His house, it will fit all the doors
you passed by.
Because you choose Him and ministry to Him, you will be afforded
intercession, teaching, evangelism, love and all the other
ministries.
For all of the lesser are found in the Greater!