The American Dream?

As I sit looking out my window, I observe nature at work in my world. The rain is falling at a steady pace and a gray squirrel is running from place to place appearing to be searching for food he has stored. His work must continue whether sunshine or rain. No matter what the weather or circumstance each day brings the same responsibility and need for provision and survival.

We have a lot in common with my little squirrel. We rush at a hurried pace from place to place searching for whatever we perceive to be the needs of life. And we do that for the entirety of our lives. We rush through our childhood wishing that we were older so we can participate in the games of life. Whether it is to attain the age of 13 to be a teenager or 15 to get a drivers permit or 16 to actually get a drivers license. And on we go experiencing the magic of age, graduating high school and maybe college.

We hurry through those magical years thinking that by “obtaining” our lives will be fulfilled. We find a mate, get married and start a family. We are so very busy learning how to be a companion, parent and provider, thinking that life will slow down at some point and we can begin to enjoy who we are and what we do. So, we rush through the early family years thinking that when the children get older, or we land that perfect job or we achieve this or that special status we've always wanted, that all will be “better” and we can slow down and enjoy this life we have created.

And, before you know it the children are all grown up, have chosen mates and have started families of their own. Then we rush through the grandparent years helping our children and grand children to do the same as we have done. We are rushing through time achieving, thinking all along this journey at some point we are going to slow down and enjoy the life we have created for ourselves and our families.

We set our goals in life always thinking of tomorrow or later. I realize that there are things in life for which you must plan. It is best to prepare for college and career, marriage and family, retirement and final things. But, it is so very important to keep the finish in mind, always! A correct understanding of the final things in one's life will keep everything else in proper focus. Then we understand that our vision of the finish will determine how we respond to every relationship in life. No matter what decision or choice we may face, the final things will bring a correct perspective to the matter. Ecc. 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Therefore, life's choices are governed by our vision of final things. We realize that we live our lives in the present tense. We are planning for tomorrow by the way we live today. That will not only affect our lives but also those who have been given into our care and those who share our sphere of influence on this journey.

Now, getting back to my little gray squirrel. His creator has given him an innate sense to gather and store provisions. I am sure that what appeared to me to be a frantic search was normal for him. That's the way squirrels are because God created them that way. You and I are created to live on a much higher plane. If God gives an animal an innate sense of provision for his life, God has done so much more for us. The problem comes when we fail to communicate with Him. My little squirrel has an automatic system built into his consciousness for his provision. We are created higher than any other creature in God's creation. We were made for relationship with God and each other. Our relationship requires communication. If we fail to communicate with God, we cannot receive instruction for our provision.

If we are listening to God, He will instruct us in His plan for us today. He will help us to understand that we live His will today so that we are in His will tomorrow. If we follow Christ today, we have no need to worry about tomorrow. Our life and future is secure in the grace of Jesus Christ.

2 Tim. 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”