Sunday, January 30, 2011

From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by David Achata

Most people have a big dream. However, as time passes, that dream can seem unattainable. Imagine this: Tonight you go to sleep. Tomorrow when you wake up, everything is going to be exactly how you want it to be. What does your life look like? Think it over. Well, that’s your dream. How do you feel now?

Now, it’s fine to dream, but the next question to ask is: What’s it going to take to get you from where you’re at to the dream you just dreamed? How you wrestle with that question will determine what becomes of your dream.

In Luke 18 we have the story of a rich young man. He had a dream. He wanted eternal life. So he got up his courage and approached Jesus and asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18) The two of them then engaged in a little conversation about what the young man had done to move toward his dream. Turns out he’d tried pretty hard, but Jesus said it wasn’t enough. Yet still, Jesus saw the greatest obstacle keeping the man from his dream. Jesus said, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (18:22) The story ends with the young man going away sad because he wasn’t willing to give it all for the sake of the dream.

Here’s an interesting thing I noticed about this story—the young man comes wanting to know how to get eternal life (his dream), yet Jesus tells him that he needs to be a disciple (God’s dream), which would eventually get him eternal life.

What’s the point? To get that dream requires a big, uncomfortable step of some sort.

Are you willing to take that step? Are you willing to give everything for the dream?

Take courage today, my friend: “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (18:27)

David Achata

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