Martin Luther King made the statement “I have a dream” an icon in the history of racial equality. But the dream Martin Luther King had was much more than just an icon. It was the vision for his life and the reason he lived. He did something about his dream – but it cost him his life. He was very aware of the dangers in pursuing his dream, but he was compelled by the vision for his life.
Jesus said “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” John 10:18 NLT
Dreams that are God-given have authority behind them. Did you know that? The authority comes from the calling of God to the dream. When you have a calling from God to pursue a God-given dream, you will give your life to it and for it – it encompasses your reason for living.
Pearl Bailey once said to me that “Anyone can dream, but it’s what you do with the dream that counts. Jim Bakker, you have built your dream.” What Pearl didn’t know at the time was that it would cost me my life, which I gave and give again for this is what my Father has commanded in my calling.
Many who aren’t doing anything for the Kingdom of God criticize those who are. When you can say that you have given it all for the call, you can live in the land of Dreams and Vision. But until then, don’t criticize those who do!
You must do something about your dream! You must obey the call of God for your life. When you do that, a funny thing happens. You have far less time and much less appetite for criticizing what others are doing.
Over the course of my lifetime, there were times that I pushed ahead, I was determined to stay focused, determined that I would not be moved off my course, determined that nothing would keep me from doing the will of God. And then there were times that He carried me through – I can take none of my own credit for continuing.
But Paul showed us the right attitude in pressing on when he said “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Paul said again “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Cor 9:25
Get that vision and let your dreams soar!
It’s time to wake up from your slumber – and do something about your dream! It’s time for the vision to live in your life! It’s time to act on it!
Love,
