Have you ever had a dream from God? People are fascinated by the unusual: dreams, visions, prophetic words, speaking in tongues, etc. But the Bible tells us over and over that there is something more valuable than these things.
I had an interesting dream once. I was in a huge place filled with thousands trying to get on elevators. There was an elevator bank with six cars, and long, shoving lines to get on. Suddenly I knew this was the rapture. We were headed to heaven, and we had to be on those elevators! I spotted my mom and brother, and I didn’t see my dad, but knew he would be okay—but my buddy Chris was nowhere to be found. I panicked! Was it too late? Could I share my faith with him? Did I know enough to talk him through the steps of salvation? I slapped my back pocket, and realized that although I owned a pocket-sized Bible, it was not in my pocket. And where was Chris?! I ran around frantic! I couldn’t go to heaven without Chris!
Then I woke up, and I knew I needed to do something to get Chris into the Kingdom. But what? I had invited him to church before, but he wasn’t interested.
Not long after that (and without me knowing!), my dad went to Chris’s house by himself and said, “Chris, get dressed. You’re coming to the church with me tonight. Steven’s mother has planned a surprise birthday party for him and she wants you there.” Chris met all my friends that night—at a dress rehearsal for the Pageant—and soon he met the Lord, and from then on went to church with me every Wednesday, Sunday morning and night, and to Tuesday night Bible studies at Robb’s house.
I’m not sure what role the dream played—if any. And sometimes dreams and visions are like that. But there is something more reliable, more DEFINITE than dreams. Just as the Apostle Paul says to always prefer known languages over speaking in foreign tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5,19), the Old Testament says to give preference to God’s Word over dreams:
“The prophet who has only a dream should recount the dream, but the one who has My word should speak My word truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain? Is not My word like fire, and like a hammer that pulverizes rock?” Jeremiah 23:28-29.
Dreams are whispy, like smoke, like talking in gestures to someone who speaks no English. But words are definite. Words give clarity. While a dream can be inspiring, its meaning can also be blurry, like trying to capture fog in your hand. Our feelings are the same way. You can go to an event and feel something positive, like love or peace, and tell yourself you felt Jesus. But the Bible says the devil himself masquerades as an angel of light. He fools everyone!
Thus, good feelings, and even dreams and visions, can prove UNRELIABLE. They are soft, like fog and smoke. But God’s word is clear and firm and as hard as a hammer that shatters stone.
Finally, God says in verse 28 that dreams are like straw; the Word is like grain. Have you seen how the horses walk away from hay when I bring them grain? They would eat grain 24-7 if they could. God’s word is delicious and NUTRITIOUS. Dreams are like a snack that gets you through the afternoon. But the Word is what you need to feast on!
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