LIFE'S DREAMS: #5 New Dreams

By Dr. Gilbert W. Stafford
Scripture: Romans 15:23-29

DREAMS ABOUT PEOPLE FLYING 

About twenty miles from where I live is the birth place of Wilbur Wright. It’s on a somewhat desolate road out from the tiny village of Millville, Indiana in the midst of farm land. The baby born there in 1867 grew up to have a dream that would change the world.

After the Wright family moved to Dayton, Ohio, Wilbur’s brother Orville was born. When the two boys became young adults they established a bicycle shop in Dayton. But they were not satisfied with limiting their energies to working on bicycles. They were motivated by a new dream. They dreamed of flying objects, and manufactured flying objects. They conducted experiments with kites and gliders. But when that dream was realized they dreamed about a motor-driven flight. By October 1902 that dream was realized. Then they dreamed about human beings going up in flying machine. On December 17, 1903 that dream also was realized when their machine weighing some 750 pounds including the pilot made four successful flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. For as long as they lived, the Wright brothers kept dreaming new dreams. And after their deaths other dreamers continued having new dreams about human flight.

Only fifty-nine years after Kitty Hawk Colonel John Glenn launched us into the space age when he made his historic orbital flight around the earth. In the course of only a half century, humankind had gone from no flight to thirty miles an hour in the air, to about 18,000 miles an hour in outer space. Whereas the first flight covered a distance of 852 feet, Colonel Glenn traveled about 75,000 miles. And since that morning in February 1962 when Glenn flew into outer space we have continued taking giant leaps into our vast universe. We have been to the Moon and back. We continue going out into space farther and farther, and flying faster and faster. But it all started with the new dreams born early this century.

This month we have been talking about life’s dreams. We have considered shattered dreams, elusive dreams, mistaken dreams, and realized dreams. All of these have to do with the past and the present. But it is the new dreams that keep us from focusing on the past and point us in the direction of the future. It is the new dreams that take us beyond the broken-heartedness of shattered dreams. It is new dreams that make glad those who are frustrated by elusive dreams. It is new dreams that give a new lease on life to those who are repentant about misplaced dreams. It is new dreams that shake us out of the lethargic satisfaction that realized dreams can bring. New dreams keep us eternally young and vibrant as we face into the future.



DREAMS ABOUT JERUSALEM, ROME, AND SPAIN

In Romans 15:23-29, we read about Paul’s new dreams having to do with Jerusalem, Rome, and Spain. Listen for the melody of hope throughout this passage: “But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you 24>when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. 25>At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; 26>for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27>They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things. 28>So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; 29>and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”[i]

Notice the dreams represented in this passage:

Paul has a dream about visiting the believers in Rome whom he has never met. He has a dream about going to Spain so that he can spread the gospel in that part of the world, also. He has a dream about going to Jerusalem to minister to Christians there. He has a dream about taking the Gentile offering to the poor Jewish believers in Judea. This is a man who does not languish in the past. In verse 23 he says: “But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you.” His dream of going to Rome and to Spain had lain dormant for years. It was only when he hit the wall of his limitations in Asia Minor that the dormant dream came alive and he began to act on it.

So often, that is the case with many good and noble dreams. We do not act on them because our attention is elsewhere. Something happens—perhaps it is a disaster, a failure, a disappointment, an unexpected turn of events—something happens that brings us face to fact with the fact that things are no longer the same. It is then, and sometimes only then, that those good and bole dreams that were lying asleep in the bottom of our hearts and minds, are awakened. Suddenly they come alive and invigorate us. But it takes the jolt of a disappointment to sensitize us to the something more that God has for us to accomplish. These are the times that we, along with Paul, find that there is “no further place for me in these regions.” We come to the realization that we need to get out of whatever regions we find ourselves in. We need to go to other more promising regions where hope lives eternal. The disappointments of life often awaken our dormant dreams. What appears at first sight as some of life’s toughest spots become gates into some of life’s most rewarding adventures.

Just as the Wright brothers were not willing to remain in the bicycle business, Paul was not willing to remain in the Asia Minor business. He was driven by hope for the future as he made plans for Jerusalem, plans for Rome, plans for Spain. Just as the Wright brothers had an upward, onward, outward, forward look, even so Paul did, also. His inspiring dreams about the future kept him from getting stuck in life. New dreams have a way of doing just that, getting us unstuck psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. Those newly renewed dreams become the spark of new life both in us and in those around us.

DREAMS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL 

Early this century, in Charlotte, North Carolina, a group of Christian men gathered for a day-long prayer meeting on the Frank Graham farm. They made their way down a rough path to a pine grove where they fasted and prayed all day. As Marshall Frady in his book tells the story, “Kneeling in loosened ties and white shirt-sleeves on quilts spread over the pine needles, their faces reddening and polished with sweat through the long gnat-humming burn of that spring day, ‘we got bolder and bolder,’ one of them remembers, ‘in what we asked of the Lord as we prayed on.’ Finally one of them stood and bayed, ‘O Lord! Out of this very city, out of Charlotte itself, may You raise up such a son as will go out and preach your gospel to the ends of the earth!’”[ii] Those men in Frank Graham’s pine grove had an inspiring dream about the future. Indeed, out of Charlotte did come one who would preach the gospel to the ends of the earth to more people than any other person who has ever lived. The rest is history. Billy Graham is his name. The dream that energized those men blessed the world far beyond their comprehension as to how it could happen.

AND HOW ABOUT YOU? 

One of life’s most tragic sights is that of a person who though perhaps young in age has no dreams for the future. On the other hand, one of the most delightful sights is that of a person who through perhaps old in age, is nevertheless alive with a dream that goes beyond their anticipated life span.

I once saw an older man planting tree saplings. He was arranging them carefully, taking into account how much space they needed when full grown. “Why are you doing this?” I asked. “For my children and grandchildren,” he responded. “This property is too barren; it’s too hot in the summer. In my mind’s eye I see a lush estate with children climbing trees, and young and old alike having picnics in the shade. In my mind’s eye I see a large yard with pleasant shade trees, ornamentals, and beautifully lined lanes.”

He was driven by a new dream that not only kept him vibrant but also would bless many long after his death.

What new dreams do you have?

If you don’t have any, ask God for some.

He will inspire new dreams in your heart and mind.

God-inspired dreams will outlast your life.

Not only will they bring out the best in you but they will bess others long after you are gone.

When a dream is shattered, my friend, ask God what new dream he has for you. When a dream is elusive, ask him for a realistic new one. When a dream is misplaced and sinful, ask God for one that pleases him. When a dream is realized, ask him where to from here, and keep on asking that question for as long as you live.

PRAYER 

Will you join me in prayer?

Gracious Lord of life, inspire within us those dreams that will bring joy to our weary lives. Inspire dreams that will bless both those around us now as well as those who will come after us. Grant to us the glow of dreams that bring honor to you. In the name of Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

[i] New Revised Standard Version used here and throughout.
[ii] Marshall Frady, Billy Graham; A Parable of American Righteousness (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1979), p.79.

Script 2596 (GWS)
September 29, 1996
SERIES: LIFE’S DREAMS
5. New Dreams
Scripture: Romans 15:23-29