“You cannot experience a dream come true – without a dream.” I heard myself say that yesterday on the Fresh Fire Ministries Radio Broadcast. Hey, it’s bad when a preacher starts quoting himself, isn’t it? However, I’m sure it wasn’t original. I just forgot who I heard say it first!
As I have journeyed for almost sixty years through this thing called life it has been my observation that too many times people surrender their dream to the circumstances of their lives. Therefore, without a dream it is impossible to experience a dream come true.
June 9, 2010 Jonathan McLeod wrote something in a sermon that illustrates what I am saying today. He said, “The Strait of Gibraltar is the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. On either side of the Strait of Gibraltar there are two mountains, which were known in ancient times as the Pillars of Hercules. According to Greek mythology, Hercules built these pillars to mark the edge of the world. (Remember that in those days people believed that the earth was flat.) The pillars bore the warning, ‘No More Beyond,’ cautioning sailors to go no further. But in 1492 Christopher Columbus destroyed the belief that there was ‘no more beyond’ when he sailed far out into the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the New World.
In the town where the explorer died, there stands a monument commemorating him. On this monument there is a statue of a lion. The lion’s paw is tearing away the word ‘No’ from the phrase ‘No More Beyond,’ making it read, ‘More Beyond.’ Columbus had proven that there was ‘more beyond.’
Whether people believe it or not, there is ‘more beyond’ this world. Heaven is a real place. Will you go there when you die? Jesus said, ‘I am the way…. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6KJV). Heaven is the eternal destiny of everyone who puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ.”
In every situation I have tried to live my Christian life with the expectation that there was “more beyond.” I have never surrendered or given up on my dreams. I have always expected more and God has never disappointed me.
As I stammered through my first sermon, I knew there had to be more beyond. As I said my wedding vows forty years ago, I knew there was more beyond. As I looked at my babies for the first time through the nursery window at the hospital, I knew there was more beyond. As my grandbabies were born (And by the way, grandchildren are God’s gift to us for not killing our children when they were younger!) I knew there was more beyond. And even as my view of “middle age” has moved from the windshield of my life to the rearview mirror, I am still convinced there is “more beyond!” Shoot! I’m still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. In fact, I just may not grow up! Getting older isn’t optional – growing up is!
I don’t know who I am speaking to today with this column, but let me end with what I started with, “You cannot experience a dream come true – without a dream.” And hey, in your life, take the word “no” off the statement, “No More Beyond,” and make it read, “More Beyond!” Don’t surrender your dream!
We all have an appointment with death. At that moment all our dreams of this life end. All that is left is the hope of eternal life with Jesus. One day that hope will become a dream come true for me. How about you? Oh! Rest assured, there is “More Beyond” this life. The only choice we have is a dream come true in heaven, or a nightmare come true in hell. It’s our choice. Choose wisely!
Brother Aaron
To schedule Brother Aaron to preach a Sunday service at your church, a revival meeting, or a special event, you may contact him at: 1-800-511-9536, 706-302.9162, or e-mail: freshfire@mindspring.com
