The Dreams of God
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Straight to the Cross
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COLUMN: FINAL PHASE
The Dreams of God
by J. Randal Matheny, editor
"Your old men will dream dreams. Your
young men will see visions." Joel 2:28
Some dream of large, fine houses decorated with
new furniture and thick carpets. I dream of a
family devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, whose
lives are embellished with the fruit of the Spirit
and the character of their Master, of children
engaged in the work of the kingdom, whose joy is
labor in the vineyard of the Lord.
Some dream of late-model cars and exotic travels
to far-away places. I dream of a walk powered by
the Spirit of God and a journey of faith and
service for an entire lifetime, with a final
destiny of eternal bliss beside the Creator who
gave me breath.
Some dream of business and customers in every city
that bring success and recognition in their field
of endeavor. I dream of congregations in every
town and neighborhood, Christians on every street
and in every home, where the gospel is preached
and sinners are taught and homes are blessed with
the presence of God.
Some dream of retirement and nest-eggs and
investments that will make the latter years
comfortable. I dream of giving my last breath for
the mission of God and an investment in souls that
will render everlasting dividends, fruit of labors
that will bear for all time, a rest beside the
faithful of all ages before the throne of God, to
sing praises and offer service that invigorate the
halls of heaven.
Some dream of new forms of entertainment, more
sophisticated equipment for sound and image, the
next clip or act to make one laugh, the next song
to move the limbs to dance, the next pleasure to
thrill the senses. I dream of hearing the sound of
God`s word from his own lips, of the joy of face-
to-face reunion with my Lord, of standing in the
pure light of his holiness, of the spectacular
demonstration of his glory undimmed by the
limitation of fleshly perceptions.
Men dream for the moment, wish for lesser things,
pursue what turns to dust. I dream the dreams of
God, seek to enter into the desires of heaven, ask
admittance into the Master's will, step outside
this confining universe of planets and stars to
touch but for a moment the infinite mind of the
Maker who has prepared for us a reward beyond our
wildest dreams.
Oh, to dream such dreams and know that eternal
reality will be so much greater, with splendor and
glory, to burst every nerve of pleasure and exceed
every human thought, to demonstrate the utter
unity of the Godhead and communion of the saints
and the single song of creation in welling
crescendo -- to dream such dreams is God's to give
and mine to cherish until these puny imaginations
give way to that day of glad reunion!
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