There are few interesting things I have derived from it. First, there's the age-old interplay between fate and our choices, kinda like predestination/election vs. free will. Second, the characters seem to be impacted dramatically by what they saw, whether it motivates them to live with hopeful expectation or dread. Finally, the key is trying to decide whether the dream/memory is "actual" or just "potential" seems to be the main pull.
And as fascinating as this is, I've thought about how we ought to think about the future, about what we do know for sure, and how that affects what we do now.
In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul says "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." I don't know about you, but that gets me really excited! How we are to long for that day, and we'll have glorious bodies, and we'll meet Jesus face to face!
Similarly, Hebrews 11:13-16 states "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city."
And so the heroes of the faith looked forward with anticipation, not having the Bible, lived with conviction, hoping in a future that God had promised, a better country in heaven. And this is the SURE future that we have when we who have faith in Jesus can be motivated by. It is a blessed and amazing and glorious future to behold!
This also reminds me of lyrics in Enfield's song "Arrived":
Watching and waiting our whole life through
For the moment when we arrived in glory.
We'll be standing before His emerald throne.
O what a day it will be!
All tears are gone and suffering ceased,
Perfect new life with no earthly strife,
For we've finished the race, run to His embrace.
O what a day that will be!
When we've arrived, stunned and surprised,
All things resolved in the blink of an eye;
No more distractions, no sin left to fight.
That first glimpse of Jesus and faith becomes sight.
Praise God that He's made a way for us to know Him and His revealed promises to us! Praise God that He is sovereign over all and in control! The Truth is that we who put our faith in Jesus have so much to be excited about.
I pray this encourages you today, and that it daily impacts how you choose to live your life today, with gospel realities front and center, loving those around you passionately for Christ's glory!
Grace and peace to you.
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