“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 NIV
Our modern-day world encourages us to dream. It’s even said that you’re never too old to pursue the ambitions of your heart. In Christian circles, we are encouraged to live out all of the desires that God places on our hearts if they are truly from the Lord. Once we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that our desires have God’s approval, then we definitely should work toward them!
I have a lot of dreams, most related to my career as a creative professional. But when I heard this lyric from the song “Heaven on Earth” by Darlene Zschech, my perspective shifted. She sang that her greatest dream is to be loved by God and that dream has already come true.
Wait a minute. She is telling me that God, who is the King of the entire Universe, loves me! Yes, the Bible tells us over and over again how much our Creator loves us, but have we paused to ponder what that truly means in relation to our earthly dreams?
My hopes for my life here on Earth included: being a wedding photographer, an award-winning journalist, a faith-based podcast host, an NYT Bestselling author of Christian fiction and nonfiction, an inspirational filmmaker, and a happily married wife and mother. But never had I thought about the Bible-based fact that my greatest dream has already come true: I am loved by God. The Bible says that God knew us before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5) and has good plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). He offers us the free gift of salvation (John 3:16) so we can be reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) for all eternity in heaven and on the Earth made new.
Let that sink in: The most powerful, honest, and true Force in this entire universe loves you. And He has made a way for you to live forever with Him in a perfect existence that is free of sin! The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.” Our God is up to something good. And His plans for us are literally out of this world!
It makes me realize that my greatest dream has nothing to do with achievements nor does it get affirmation by what this world can offer. Remember: Our world will not last forever. Because of the presence of evil and the consequences of sin, this world is dying. We are dying. But God offers us eternal life! And this same God loves us with an everlasting love that is pure, unconditional, and complete. Though this world will not last forever, our God will last forever, His Kingdom will last forever, and all of us who give our lives to Him will live forever with Him in heaven and on the Earth made new. He promises us this in His Word, and God always keeps His promises. This gives us something good to look forward to!
All of our earthly dreams may not always come true. But we can rest in remembering that, regardless of our hopes for this life, our greatest dream has already become a reality. Our Maker loves us and He loves us forever! If we follow His Son (Jesus Christ) and have faith in God, then we, too, will live forever. Isn’t that such a beautiful truth and promise to receive?
In closing, I would like for you to listen to the song “Heaven on Earth” by Darlene Zschech which inspired me in my faith walk with God. Allow God to fill you to the brim with His divine love.
Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for loving us before we were born. Help us to love You in return and obey You faithfully. Thank You for the free gift of salvation offered to us through your Son. Help us to follow Him all the way to heaven. And help us to accept the ultimate dream of Your enduring love for us and all humankind. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/metamorworks
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
Originally published Monday, 19 February 2024.
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