DREAMING DREAMS!

DREAMING DREAMS!

Acts 2:17

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

          In this New Testament quote of Joel 2:28, Peter gives us two ways in which God reveals his will and plans. The young men, full of impetuous energy, will have visions. Peter himself would have a vision soon in which a huge sheet would be let down from heaven full of animals previously unclean to eat (Acts 10:9-16). God was impressing His will upon the imagination. Young men dare! They challenge the status quo and dare to ask why. God can harness this youthful energy and He often does. Visionary young men are part of God’s program although they are sometimes irksome to we who are more mature.

         Old men, with their years of experience, have seen the twists in the road that the young are yet to experience. They are cautious and a bit weary but they still desire to do exploits for God. Their approach is simply different! Paul is an example as he made several attempts to take the gospel to Asia. Paul had concluded one missionary tour but he was not finished. He longed for a new assignment. First one city and then another was closed to him. Rather than charging ahead with youthful vigor, Paul laid himself down to wait. That’s when the Macedonian appeared to him in the night (Acts 16:5-10).

         General Douglas MacArthur said: “People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul. Worry, self-doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair; these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.”

Dear Lord, as I grow older and my body resists the youthful leaps of faith, let me be content with a steady walk. When the visions fail let me yet dream. Let me be a part of your plan today. AMEN