Dreams

As Americans, practically from infancy, we are bombarded with the idea that we can be whatever we want to be, do whatever we want to do, and become whatever we want to become.

As children, we believed this to be true, and lived out our fantasies of being whatever it was that we dreamed of being.

But, as we grow older, we realize that not all things are possible. We realize that our choices are limited. Gender, ethnicity, physical appearance, socioeconomic class, birth order – a myriad of factors constrain our options.

Dreams can be very good – they motivate us, inspire us, and give us hope for the future. They can also be very bad – they cause us to buy things we can’t afford, quit perfectly good jobs, and lead us into all manner of evil.

So, then, why do we incessantly dream, and wish, and strive for more? Why is our current state of being never enough? Why are we constantly seeking, but never finding, “a balanced life”?

The reason is that God is calling us out of our dream state.

He does not want us to settle for anything less than reality. He wants to equip us for, and lead us on, a great journey, an odyssey to a land beyond our wildest imagining. A place where we become exactly who we are meant to be, where we truly belong and where love reigns supreme.

But, there is a cost, and it won’t be easy. We must sacrifice everything. We must never look back. We must give up our silly little dreams and start learning the mind of the One who made us.

We must give up our Will to Power, our Five Year Plan, our Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and even our 401(k).

But what are these, compared to complete eternal fulfillment and belonging in a place beyond imagining?

The Lord is knocking at the door, saying, “Follow me!”

Will we leave our boats and nets on the shore, like the disciples? Or, will we roll over in our slumber, and settle for dreams?