Visions of Hope

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, "Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o'clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.' Acts 2:14-17 NLT

 

In the Last Days. That phrase “last days” appears only eleven times in the Bible—but it is one that is surrounded by controversy and continual anticipation. Are we in the “last days?” God’s timing is known only by the Father. We are told…But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 Timothy 3:1. There will be some hard times—will that be for everyone? Paul goes on to write…Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:12-15. Keep on keeping on—following Jesus’ teachings. Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you. Jesus promised…But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26.

 

Kind of exciting that it has been promised that young and old will see visions and dreams. Visions of prophesy? Dreams of heaven? There are so many movies that have been made—with visions of the future. Most of them are not very encouraging! Doom and gloom rather than a Utopia where we will live happily ever after is a state of bliss. We watched the two Divergent series movies...Divergent and Insurgent...post-apocalyptic science fiction movies where the society is broken up into factions. Will life on earth be like that someday? Such a power struggle between the groups—and no one looking to God. But then it wasn’t billed as a religious film. Dreams of a better life…of heaven? Isn’t that what we are all ultimately seeking? What do you dream about?

 

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit, give us grace to dream dreams that give us…and those around us…hope, peace and an assurance that You are in control. In the troubles of the last days…You will be there to remind us that we are loved and that God has a plan for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT. My hope is in You, Lord.

 

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

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