June 10th 2012

When the Father created us, he did not just provide bodies with brains. He gave us many other gifts. One of them is the gift of imagination. So often we think of imagination as delving into an unreal world, but it can lead us to further understand the truth, move forward and discover new wonders and greater realities. This is especially true when we read the scriptures. I think I have touched on this subject once before but I feel led to write about it again.

In the book of Acts, following the day of Pentecost, there are many stories of the happenings in that very early church. As I read them I try to use my imagination based on true fact. In Acts 9, we read that Peter is in the seaside town of Joppa and has healed Aneas and Tabitha (Dorcas). He decides to stay on in Joppa with Simon the tanner who has a house by the sea shore. Meanwhile, about 40 miles to the north in the Town of Caesarea, Cornelius a Roman Centurion and a devout seeker after God had a vision. An angel appears to tell him to send for Peter. Are you picturing all this in your mind or in your imagination and filling in the details? Cornelius calls two of his household slaves and a devout soldier under his command. Picture the scene as he tells them of his vision and sends them off. How do you see them going down the road? Do they march off in a military fashion with a solider escorting them? Do they meander along with other travellers? Is it possible that they sing?

The next day, when they are near the end of their journey, Peter, at Simon’s house goes up to the rooftop to pray. Rooftops were special get away places, usually reached by an outside stair. Think of Peter up there. Did the lay on the parapet and look out at the Mediterranean Sea? Jewish people are not as a rule great sailors but Peter was a fisherman who grew up on the Lake of Galilee. What were his thoughts? What did he pray about? We are told he became aware that he was very hungry and he asked for some food. I try to picture  - Did he call down to the women in the house below? Did he run down the outside stairs? There is no food available, no snack they can give him. However, they are happy to do anything for Peter and tell him they will cook up a meal but it will take a little time. Still hungry he returns to his prayers and falls into a trance. In it he sees a white cloth held at the four corners descending from above. It is filled with all sorts of animals. They must be alive because he hears a voice saying “Kill and eat”. This part is hard to imagine but what it is hard for Peter is that all these creatures are forbidden by law for him to eat,  ( Leviticus 11: 4) and he is so hungry. Nonetheless, he protests that he cannot eat forbidden food. The voice says, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane”

As he ponders this he hears the voices of the three from Cornelius' house. He goes down and invites them in. They tell their story and stay overnight. Imagine them all as they sat and talked before they slept. Was it as this point that Peter understood his vision? Jews had been taught they must not socialize with gentiles or enter their homes. God told him clearly that anyone of any nation who was a righteous person is acceptable to him. Peter knows he is free to go off the next day and enter the house of a gentile – Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. Other believers decide to go with him.

We have to leave them there, travelling back to Caesarea. How did they go with their single Roman escort? Did they walk solemnly or laugh and chat together? Did they sing psalms? Go with them, enter their joy and expectation. Let the story of their arrival come alive. May all your reading of scripture come alive. Enjoy.