Each week I join millions of Americans by watching countless hopefuls fight for their dreams on American Idol. Dreaming has become a multi-trillion dollar EMPIRE that has reshaped television programming over the last decade.
The networks know the reality of everyone having big dreams. Isn’t that why millions of us tune in each week, because we want to chase our dreams too? Everyone wants their four or five seconds of fame, you're not alone. But, the harsh truth is, not everyone gets to live the dream—and that’s where the drama comes from.
Sometimes, I CRY along with those who don’t get what they had hoped for. Or I cry because I’m so happy that someone who is flat broke has a chance to provide for themselves and their families.
But, to be honest, what breaks my heart the most. Are those who BLOW MY MIND by thinking because they believe in Jesus, HE SAY, SHE SAY they will win the competition and receive EVERYTHING—they—have worked hard for. Seems like a lot of hard work to me.
At this point in my life, my youth is fading, my dreams are dead—but I still have hope! God is RIGHT BY MY SIDE. No T.V. show can give you this hope, DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE chasing dreams.
Although, God’s power is LIMITLESS (Job 42:2; Psalm 36:6), ours isn’t. I can’t fly like a bird or walk on water, regardless of how much I believe or dream. Popular Christianity isn’t biblical Christianity—it’s materialism. God doesn’t promise to pour down material blessings like rain. There’s MORE 2 LIFE than worthless stuff.
King Solomon warned us about chasing after pleasures and riches (Proverbs 23:5; Ecclesiastes 1:3, 2:11, 18). That is what this St. Patrick’s Day blog will be about, the twisted gospel of believing and receiving.
KEEP FIGHTING?
Legend has it; St. Patrick was taken from his home in Britain when he was only sixteen. He spent six years in Ireland living as a slave, until one night when God spoke to him in a vision. God told him to flee to the coast of Ireland. So he walked Two hundred miles to the coast where he was able to board a ship and return to Britain.
After returning to Britain and being reunited with his family, Saint Patrick had another vision. This time, it wasn’t exactly what he had hoped for. God told him to return to Ireland and spread the gospel. God wanted Saint Patrick to love on the people who kidnapped him and then lead them to Jesus—crazy!
There is a difference between dreams and visions; dreams make us FEEL GOOD, visions are MORE THAN A DREAM and help guide us in THE PLAN God has for us. Not every dream is from God and we just may not like them.
Let’s be honest, most people would rather fight God to achieve their selfish desires and LIFESTYLE. Many people treat God like some kind of genie in a bottle or a magical machine that we input our dreams and wait expectantly, “claiming” it in the name of Jesus. Come on give me that, so You can be glorified, God.
I’ve never seen anything in the Bible to justify this selfish mentality; in fact, I’ve seen quite the opposite. The Bible is full of countless stories of people willingly giving up their wants and desires to follow Jesus, even to the death.
In the “faith” chapter of Hebrews, the author gives a detailed listing of those who did not recieve what was promised and they were commended for their faith (Hebrews 11:24–38). Jesus Himself willingly refused the pleasures of this world when He was tempted in the desert. Jesus taught His followers to D.I.E. to themselves daily (Matthew 16:24).
Jerry Jenkins continues in his book I Saul, “However, the death of Stephen did not have its intended effect on the people of the Way. Continuing to insist that Jesus had resurrected from the dead and cannot be termed a martyr, they began calling Stephen the first martyr to the cause of Christ. Rather than cowering in fear of the same fate for themselves, some even expressed envy for the fact that Stephen had been privileged—imagine!—to have been persecuted this way for the sake of Jesus.”
It’s quite different for many Christians in the modern church; we’ve become daydreamers sleepwalking through life, consumed by our dreams. Instead of visionaries letting God guide us like a COMPASS. Compasses work because they always point north; it’s called “true” north because it can always be trusted. Just like God. We need to wake up.
Just?
In a recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy, April Kepner, a Christian doctor had to face a decision to abort her child with a defective gene. Her heart–felt plea with her husband broke my heart, because it hit home for me as well:
“This isn’t fair, it’s not just. I have spent my whole life believing in a God Who is just. He gave me a calling and I followed it. I save lives every day and I feel like I’m finally becoming who He wants me to be and then this…to be handed this—all of those years trusting and believeing and praying.”
I’m so glad that God chose to SAVE ME from my selfish desires and dreams instead of giving them to me. Many false teachers present the gospel like it’s a Powerball lottery where God multiplies every dream we have. But this simply isn’t true, the good news of the gospel has nothing to do with our dreams, it’s all about JESUS, He will HOLD YOUR HAND in the hard times you’re left counting stars (Isaiah 41:10).
Pastor Sam storms said it best, “The purpose of existence is the pursuit of enjoyment … in God! Our desires, affections, pursuits, all that we say and do, all that we love or hate, are to be measured by this single criterion and subordinated to this one end: happiness in God.” God is just and HE KNOWS what He is doing (Ecclesiastes 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:6).
Since I’ve stopped fighting God and learned to surrender, He has showed me so much more about myself, and in recent years given me NEW DREAMS. I’ve learned to LET IT GO and trust God with it. Even if I’m not happy where I am right now, I still have peace.
Jesus taught His disciples to cast their burdens on Him (Matthew 11:28). There’s no need to keep on fighting; we can trust a just God to keep fighting.
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