The Ghosts of Our Dreams

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26

Recently I was reminded in my time with God how nothing on this earth satisfies. As I continued praying and reflecting on that, I felt Him draw a comparison to my recent dreams.

I've always loved dreaming. As a child, I would actually be so excited to go to sleep so I could experience some new adventure, perhaps flying or or going on some high speed chase on a motorcycle. The worst part about dreaming, however, was the disappointment of waking up and realizing that none of it was real, and I actually didn't own a new Polly Pocket with real-life fairies in it.

I no longer dream about Polly Pockets, (though I may tear through the streets on a motorcycle now and then), but today I am even more aware how strangely vivid and realistic the illusions in our dreams can appear. Several times I have dreamt lately about things that I have wished were real, however I knew that if I were to reach out, they would no longer be there. The things in my dreams are not real. I cannot grasp or hold onto them. When I wake up, it will all be merely a memory, and probably a ridiculous one at that.

As silly as this comparison may seem, I felt it bring clarity to the fleetingness of the world's pleasures, and how the things that seems so deceivingly desirable and valuable are, in reality, disappointingly temporary and worthless. We strive after the perfect relationship, the perfect job, success, popularity and earthly happiness. We never find exactly what we are looking for, and if we think we do, we soon realize the satisfaction we had hoped it would bring was only a mirage, vanishing once we finally reached it.

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 1:14

None of the things we see will last. When we die, we will leave behind our reputations, our instagram accounts, our many facebook friends and never ending tally of likes and followers. None of it will matter, it will seem so blatantly trivial. Our clothes, our homes, our careers—all that we have built for our lives on earth will cease to have any value to us. Only what was built on the foundation of Christ, for His Kingdom, will remain.

“Each builder must choose with care how to build... For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-14

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Even our religious striving is worthless if the heart of it is not right. We can be the most famous inspiration speaker in the world, with great scholarly influence and hundreds of motivational publications, but still be missing the point. Our heart and our treasure must be with the Lord, with our hope and faith anchored in His love.

“But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:8,13

Jeremiah declares how deceitful our hearts can be, drawing us to things that have no benefit or worth. But he also identifies the way to a life of peace and fulfillment, free from all this futility and anxious striving.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

But,

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:9,7-8

The things that the world values are not things of true value. It presents so many options to fulfill our desires, but all of them are a cruel farce. As God's Word warns us:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

I don't want to spend my life chasing after fleeting ghosts in my dreams, or investing my time and energy into things that have no value. I want to spend my life building His Kingdom, seeking His righteousness in my life and letting love be my motivation in everything. I spend so much of my time worrying about things that eternally, (or even next month), will hold little or no significance.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ” Matthew 6:33

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above[the things of Christ], not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.” Psalm 101:3

We will save ourselves a whole lot of heartache and disappointment if we fix our hope on things that will endure, rather on things that will fade. If we cling to things that are passing away, we will find ourselves waking up empty handed.

#bible #christ #faith #freedom #future #trust #kingdom #ghosts #dreams #meaningless