Awake in the dark of night, a vision appeared before my mind’s eye—a luminescent yellow flower, glowing mysteriously from within. As I pondered what I had seen, I heard the Lord repeat the word, “lotus, lotus, lotus,” until He had my full attention. Unfamiliar with the lotus flower, I rose to search out the mystery He was revealing. Afterall, there is a proverb that lets us know, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter,”[1] And here is what I found:

• The lotus flower blossoms in the swamp.[2]
• It rises “from a dark place into beauty and rebirth.”[3]
• The yellow lotus flower symbolizes purity, spiritual awakening, enlightenment, and even divinity.
• “Its ability to rise from the mud, can be seen as a metaphor for resurrection and new life in the Christian faith.”[4]
• The lotus flower—in contrast to a water lily—rises and stands tall above the surface of the swamp.

Still, I wondered. Why was the Lord drawing my attention to this mysterious, metaphorical flower and what was He revealing? In Colossians, we are told about a mystery kept in the dark for a long time that is now out in the open. A mystery of glorious riches that God wants everyone to know about. The revelation of this mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory.[5] But how does the mystery of Christ in us relate to the yellow lotus flower growing in the swamp?

Two days before being shown the lotus, I had a vision of Jesus standing on the bank of the Sea of Galilee. Lots of men and women were lining the shore to hear Him preach about the Kingdom of Heaven. Also, where the fish is shown on the painting, I saw a large passenger plane floating in the water with its tail on the bank as if it had just landed. Its position and colorful scale-like exterior made it look like a giant Koi fish which suggests that a big catch is coming in.

Searching out this vision in scripture, I read in Matthew where Jesus, while living near the Sea of Galilee, fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy by announcing to the people, “Listen, …You who spend your days shrouded in darkness can now say, ‘We have seen a brilliant Light.’ And those who live in the dark shadow land of death can now say, ‘The Dawning Light arises on us.’”[6] After Jesus metaphorically reveals Himself as the light they have seen, Matthew wrote, “From that time on Jesus began to proclaim his message with these words: ‘Keep turning away from your sins and come back to God, for heaven’s kingdom realm is now accessible.’”[7] We are then told that Jesus—the Light of the World—was walking and preaching along the shore of the Sea of Galilee when He saw two fisherman casting their nets in the water. Watching them, He called out, “Come and follow me, and I will transform you into men who catch people for God.”[8] “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[9]

But how does one become of fisher of men? And what does the lotus flower have to do with fishing? A clue is found in the fifth verse of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.[10] It states, “In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea. With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me. As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.” Committed to do this very thing, the Apostle Paul declared, “No matter what, I will continue to hope and passionately cling to Christ, so that he will be openly revealed through me before everyone’s eyes. So, I will not be ashamed! In my life or in my death, Christ will be magnified in me. My true life is the Anointed One, and dying means gaining more of him.”[11] So yes, death is required to be raised in Christ and become radiant with His glory.

The divine mystery that God wants to reveal is this—Christ in you, the hope of glory. Could it be that, like the lotus, we have been purposefully planted to reveal Christ’s life and light where it is needed most? Empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we become beacons in the darkness for those lost in the dark and murky waters of the world. And if Christ be lifted up in us, He will draw all people to Himself.[12] Even as He drew us, He longs to draw others through us. Like the lotus, we must rise up wherever we are planted, standing tall above the swamp for Jesus.

The night I began painting the lotus, I encountered an intense level of spiritual warfare. It took everything in me just to remain standing and keep my brush moving. But the following day, as I reflected on the battle, something deep within me stirred. Coming from my innermost being, I heard myself boldly declare, “I AM LOTUS.” In that definitive moment of liberating revelation, I realized I was not created to look like, or conform to, anything—or anyone—but Jesus. Uniquely created in His image and filled with His Spirit we are called to reveal who Jesus is to the world around us.

I sense the Lord is asking, “Will you be My witness?  Will you be My fisher of men? Will you be My lotus?” There are many souls lost in the deep dark waters of the world waiting to see the mystery of Christ revealed in you. They are longing for the hope of glory—Christ, their Savior. They are searching for the light only you carry. They are waiting for the moment when the scales fall from their eyes, like they did from Saul’s, when Ananias, the faithful servant of God, met him on the street called Straight and prayed for him. Instantly, Saul’s sight was restored, and everywhere he went he revealed Jesus.[13] Those who see the Light will come and want to glorify Jesus, the Son of God.

                                                                                    Artist & Author: Ginger E. Mosher
                                                                                               www.GEMgallery.org


[1] Proverb 25:2 New King James Versiom (NKJV)
[2] See Song of Solomon 2:2 The Message (MSG)
[3] https://totalpond.com
[4] AI Overview of the symbolism of Lotus Flower
[5] See Colossians 1:26-27 MSG, New International Version (NIV)
[6] Matthew 4:15-16 The Passion Translation (TPT)
[7] Matthew 4:17 TPT
[8] Matthew 4:18-19 TPT
[9] Matthew 4:19 NKJV
[10] Howe, Julia Ward, Lyricist. Battle Hymn of the Republic. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co. 1862. Notated Music.
[11] Philippians 1:20-21 TPT
[12] See John 12:32 NIV
[13] See Acts 9:17-20

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Mystery Revealed