Healing of Eczema: Meeting Jesus at the Beach
(The following is from my book, The Four Living Creatures: Entering God’s Kingdom in the Age of Terror–available at this site and at Amazon)
I found myself walking along the shore of the ocean. The surf splashed against my bare feet and then pulled the sand out from under them as it rushed back into the sea. The fresh scent of salt air filled my nostrils refreshing and invigorating my soul and body. I stopped for a moment to view the different shades of blue-green water stretching out before me. Suddenly I was almost knocked off my feet as a large wave unexpectedly surged against the shore soaking my rolled up pant legs almost to my waist. It was a cool evening and ordinarily the wet clothes would have sent a chill over my body, but now I only felt invigorated.
My mind gradually returned to the events of the day. It had been a good day…a very busy day filled with the typical activities of balancing ministry with family life. I felt like I had accomplished a lot and was ready for some “alone time” with God here at the beach. Although it had been a good day, one thing had troubled me. A nagging health problem that had plagued me my entire life had reared its ugly head again. The stinging, itching curse of eczema had broken out on my face, hands and arms and I had been unconsciously “digging” at it all day. The medicine that had been so effective was now priced out of my ability to afford. I had received a phone call from the pharmacist that day asking if I was sure I wanted him to fill the prescription I had dropped off that morning because it was going to cost over a thousand dollars! I immediately cancelled the order.
I forced myself to focus on the beauty around me. As the sun was descending, brilliant shades of orange, along with pink and some lavender colored the clouds…even the ocean itself was beginning to look orange. A few birds soaring out over the water, perhaps hoping for one more snack before retiring for the day, appeared to be black as they were silhouetted against the brilliant fiery sky.
I must be getting back soon, I reasoned. I don’t want to be out here alone after dark. As I turned to go, I noticed something off to my right I had not seen before although I must have passed by it. In a little rocky alcove just far enough back where the waves would not reach was a fire and a lone figure of a man sitting beside it. Ordinarily I would have hastened by and ignored the man, but a deep feeling of peace and security enveloped me and something inside drew me almost irresistibly toward the lone figure and the fire much like a moth to a lamp.
The man seemed familiar to me as though I had known him for many years…perhaps an old friend. He seemed to be expecting me and motioned for me to sit near the fire across from him.
As I sat down while looking intently at the man’s face, I recognized who he was. He was Jesus! He spoke saying, “You are wet from the waves and there is a chill in the air. Sit here for awhile and soon you will be warm and dry.”
Indeed the fire was already warming my cold legs. The crackling of the burning logs and the slight scent of wood smoke brought back pleasant feelings associated with family camping trips and loving fellowships of years gone by.
Jesus stirred the fire with a stick and then raised his head towards me with a look of concern emanating from his deep blue eyes. His black beard was neatly trimmed, as was his hair. To my surprise he was not dressed in a white robe as I would have expected, but rather in blue jeans and a khaki shirt. Everything about him was very masculine with a strength about him that gave me a sense of well-being and a knowing that no evil could befall me when I was in his presence.
As though reading my mind he said, “You need never fear anything because I am always with you in the same strength and loving concern you are sensing here. I have pulled the veil back for you to see and experience here tonight what is always true even when I am not visible and you have to trust me by faith.”
Jesus continued, “I know of your concern over the price of the medicine. This is what will be befalling everyone in these last days. You are going to have to trust me for all your healing needs.”
“But how can I do that?” I lamented. “I have tried to believe for healing many times but never could muster up enough faith.”
“Yes, I know,” he said. “I am going to show you tonight how to find a deeper relationship with me whereby I can heal your body of everything if you are willing to spend the time with me. Let’s start healing that eczema tonight.”
“I’m all for that!” I exclaimed.
“I want my people to be healed,” Jesus continued, “but even more than that, I want them to love me and desire to be with me. Only then will I be able to bring them into the dimension of spirituality and wholeness I have for my church of the end times.”
Jesus moved over closer to me and indicated he wanted me to lie on the sand with my head in his lap. “I long to be close to my people,” he said, “but many keep me at arms’ length. They don’t understand that my holiness does not mean I am untouchable. I shed my blood for each of you so that we could have a close relationship. Would a loving father never stroke his child’s head? Would a bridegroom never touch his bride?”
“No,” I responded.
Jesus continued, “Close our eyes and rest here with your head in my lap. Listen to the sound of the waves splashing up on the shore. Hear the crackling of the warm fire. Breathe deeply and relax.”
I did as he instructed. I could feel the tension leaving my muscles. The itching of my skin subsided. For the first time in days I felt truly relaxed and at peace.
Jesus said, “I asked you to focus on these sounds because I want you to remember them and be able to recall them at any time. When the stress and concerns of your life begin to nag at you, draw apart with me and let your mind come back to this place. See the beauty you have seen tonight in your mind. Recall the sounds of the waves, the fire, and my voice. I will always be here waiting for you. You can come here any time you choose.
I opened my eyes to see Jesus reaching into his shirt pocket. He pulled out a small, golden vial that had been engraved with filigree. He removed the lid, poured some fragrant oil into his hands and began to gently massage the oil into my face. Ever so gently his fingers glided over my eyelids…one of my worst places for eczema. His movements were rhythmic, slow and incredibly gentle. The oil was warm and I could feel it penetrating my skin as the fragrance filled my nose with a scent sweeter than the freshest flower.
Jesus continued to instruct me. “As you lie here with your eyes closed, I want you to picture what you are seeing here tonight in your mind. Envision my nail-scarred hands gently massaging the warm, healing balm into your skin so that after you leave this place tonight, you will be able to return here in your mind at any time. The more you return to this experience in your mind, the stronger it will become until you will actually feel my hands touching your face.
“I want you to think about what my Word says about healing when you meet with me here. Thank me for healing you and don’t allow the enemy to put his lies in your mind. As you come here often to be with me, over a period of time you will find the problem with eczema will disappear.”
Jesus continued gently massaging the oil into each area of my skin plagued with the insistent rash. We were quiet for a time as I lay there totally relaxed, concentrating on his gentle touch and the sounds and scents of the experience. Never had I known such peace.
Then Jesus said, “Your healing will take time because I am healing you from the inside out. You need to change some of your thinking to be totally free of the eczema. Have you ever wondered why the rash is on certain parts of your body and not on others?”
“Yes,” I have thought about that,” I replied.
Jesus continued, “Think about your feelings about yourself connected with aging.”
I knew right where he was headed with this. “I have hated the wrinkles and effects of aging apparent on my face and arms, the very places where I am troubled with the rash,” I responded.
“Yes,” he said, “and what you are doing is rejecting those parts of your body. When you reject any part of yourself, you are opening the door to the enemy.”
“Oh, Lord, please forgive me!” I exclaimed. “I know this is a part of my self-love that still exists and needs to go. I repent of agreeing with what the world says about a woman’s appearance rather than what your Word says. I know you find beauty in a quiet, gentle spirit. The most important beauty is what is inside, not what is temporal and on the outside.”
“You will overcome this,” Jesus promised. “If you will be faithful to spend time with me here and focus the eyes of your heart on me, your self-love will go. You have died a lot to what others think of you. This part will go quickly as you allow me to tell you how beautiful I think you are.”
Then he asked, “Do you feel weak or sick in your body as you age?”
“No, Lord. Because of your activity in my life, I feel healthier and stronger than I have ever been.”
“Then focus on that and where you are headed as you draw close to me. You know from your studies that I am doing a work that will culminate in the total removal of all carnality and its effects from your soul and body, but first all your thinking must align itself with mine. It will help if you visualize yourself as I see you…in total perfection.
“All this seems so impossible,” I said.
Jesus answered, “Just remember that with man it is impossible, but with me, all things are possible. It is time, my Beloved, to enter into the good things of the kingdom that I have prepared for those who love me. Now you must return home. It is dark. You will not see me now, but I will lead you safely home.”
