I saw the Lord sitting on His throne. There were many in crowns sitting on smaller thrones around Him. There was a basin of clear water sitting before him.

He took what looked like a cup and dipped it in the basin, filling the cup. He then said,

"Once again it is time to see." And He gave the cup to an Angel standing to His left.

The angel went down to the earth and entered a church. One by one the angel went to individuals, men and women, leaders and followers, and offered the cup of water asking a single question, "Do you want this?"

FROM 40 YEARS AGO

It was at this point that I noticed the clothing of the individuals. I noticed that their clothing was what was worn about 40 years ago. It was then that I knew in the spirit that I had been taken back in time to 40 years ago.

Each person answered that they did indeed want the cup that was offered. When they answered that they did want it the angel said, "It will cost you $10,000 dollars."

The price wasn't the same for each person. The angel seemed to know what amounted to everything the individual owned and then used this amount.

ONLY IF YOU WILL GIVE IT TO ME

Once the price was attached to the cup-- each person studied the cup in a way they had not when it was first offered. Each then gave their apology with things like, "Well, I'd like to have it, but no glass of water is worth all that. If you are willing to give it to me I'd like to have it, but not if it is going to cost me anything.

BACK TO THE PRESENT TIME

At this I was back in the presence of the Lord. The scene was again being played out with the Lord dipping a cup in a basin before him. I suddenly knew in the spirit that I was not in a past time, at this point, but in the present.

THIS TIME, EXPLAIN THE MEANING

This time, after giving the angel the cup the Lord spoke to the angel and said, "This time, before I send you to my Church, explain the meaning."

At this the angel spoke to me and said, "Son of man, every generation of the Church has been offered this cup. With the exception of the 1st generation, none has been willing to pay the price. They see it as a dessert after a meal that they would like to have, but don't really need-- if the cost is too high."

THOSE WHO WOULD RECEIVE THE CUP--AND ITS BLESSINGS

At once I remembered the scripture about the pearl of great price, and the treasure found in a field. Then the angel spoke again and said,

"Behold the ones that will receive the cup and the blessing it brings..."

At this I saw men and women crawling out of a desert parched and panting. When the angel offered the cup to each they began to beg and plead for it. When the angel gave each the price, regardless of what it was, they each answered the same, "YES, ANY PRICE, I MUST HAVE IT!!!"

TOO DESPERATE TO CARE ABOUT THE COST

All at once the event of every desperate person who met Jesus in the Bible was passed before me as if all-at-once. The woman who grabbed the hem of his garment, the man whose daughter was on the verge of death. The lame, the blind, and the dumb. All too desperate to care about the cost.

Then I was back before the Lord. "Go now," he said. And the angel once again departed to the earth and His Church. At once I thought of my own heart as I beheld the cup. I began to repent that my heart was not desperate for it when I first saw it. Make us desperate Lord! I want to be ready. I want to be desperate. Church...it's time to be desperate.