Dealing With Unreachable Destinations
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Message Review/Introduction
DEALING WITH UNREACHABLE DESTINATIONS |
Past weeks:
1. Your direction, not your intentions, determine your destination. ()
2. Life is a series of mid-course corrections. A prudent person sees danger, and does not ignore it and tries to avoid it. But the Simple just keep on going. ()
3. We shouldn’t trust our hearts but should trust our hearts to God. ()
So far in our series on The Path, we’ve learned that:
1. Your direction determines your destination. ()
2. Life is a series of mid-course corrections. ()
3. We shouldn’t trust our hearts but should trust our hearts to God. () 4. Reputation matters, so choose the story you will tell. ()
5. Wise people seek counsel. ()
6. Attention determines focus/direction. ()
4. Reputation matters, so choose the story you will tell. ()
4. Reputation matters, so choose the story you will tell. ()
4. Wise people seek counsel. ()
5. Attention determines focus/direction. ()
Look straight ahead and don’t get distracted by things that will lead you off the path.
So what do you do when you realize that the destination you’re trying to achieve is unachievable, that the dream you had is not going to come true, that the hope you had is going to go unfulfilled?
What do you do when you find yourself trying to reach a destination that is unreachable? Pause and remember God is still working His plan!
FACT: Some destinations are unreachable. Some dreams won’t come true.
Some dreams can’t come true! Sometimes, we make lifestyle choices that hinder our progress. A single decision can get us off the path.
Some destinations are out of reach because of mistakes we’ve made. And some become unreachable because of decisions others make.
Sometimes we are to blame. Sometimes there is no one to blame.
In time, the reason behind our inability to get where we want to becomes irrelevant. We are where we are, we aren’t where we want to be – and there is nothing that can be done to change it!
I believe everybody faces disappointment at some point in life. Often, we simply run out time.
Vince Lombardi, famed coach of the Green Bay Packers said, “We didn’t lose; we just ran out of time.”
Perhaps with unlimited time we could make more of our dreams come true. But there aren’t any time-outs in life. The clock is always running. At some point we wake to the realization that our dream – is not going to happen for us
Time is often the culprit. Vince Lombardi, famed coach of the Green Bay Packers, said, “We didn’t lose; we just ran out of time.” Perhaps with unlimited time we could make more of our dreams come true. If we could stop the clock, we might be able to reach any destination we choose. But there aren’t any time-outs in life. The clock is always running. At some point we wake to the realization that it – whatever it is – is not going to happen for us.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
Munson, “If I lived forever, perhaps I could attain most of my dreams; but I now know I can never attain all of them. Just by living and making bad choices, I have produced enough obstacles to thwart many of my goals. Unfortunately, life has no time-outs. The clock relentlessly ticks. I cannot stop it. And I can never go back.
The Bible says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” ().
At some point every mature person wakes to the realization, that while MANY of their goals are not attainable, ALL the God has for them is! When that happens, they finally begin to grow up in Christ!”
When we realize our dream cannot be attained, our heart gets sick. It’s the natural first reaction. We ache, we hurt, we wake up in the middle of the night and think about what could have been.
What do you do when you can’t reach your destination? Scripture provides some guidance...
1. Endure the pain and determine NOT to allow it to freeze you in place!
1. Endure the pain and determine NOT to allow it to freeze you in place!
People tend to do one of two things when dreams are not realized—they either freeze in place and get bitter, or work through it and get better.
We have lots of Biblical examples:
As a seventeen-year-old, Joseph had all the dreams in the world. He had a literal dream that one day he would rule over his father and brothers. Then he found himself in slavery, and the dream died. His heart must have been beyond sick.
Daniel, at about the same age, found himself chained to other young Israelites and dragged hundreds of miles into exile in a foreign country. His heart must have been sick. Would he get bitter or would he get better?
King David was told his newborn son was going to die. He had to decide how to deal with horrendous news?
The Apostle Paul was struck with a physical disease. He called it a “thorn in his flesh.” We don’t know what that was exactly, but it was a disability that severely limited him.
Some believe he had poor eyesight. Imagine struggling to read if your whole life revolved around communicating and writing and preaching?
Some believe it was poor knees. Imagine barely being able to walk in a culture that had no trains, planes, or automobiles. They didn’t even have bicycles.
Most believe that he had epilepsy. Imagine getting up in front of crowds to speak and finding yourself suddenly thrown to the ground in an uncontrollable seizure?
We don’t know what Paul had, but he despaired over it. His heart was sick.
Then there’s Jesus. The Bible says that on the night before He was crucified, He went to the Garden and prayed about the kind of death He was facing. He prayed, “Father, if there is any way we can do this without me having to die on the Cross, please take this fate away from me.” He was so anguished about it, he actually sweated drops of blood.
What do you do when you’re heartsick? How can you avoid bitterness and work toward betterness?
Andy Stanley wrote, “What do you do when your dream can’t come true?... You can get angry with God, angry with life. You can despair. You can try to make something happen anyway. You can try and live your dream through your kids. I’ve seen that plenty of times. But at the end of your striving and manipulating, nothing will have changed. You will be just as far away from whatever it is you desired. But now you will be far from God as well.”
Paul had had some amazing things happen to him in his life—he knew what it was to live on the mountain and he learned how to live in the valley. Imagine how he felt when he realized, he would live with his physical ailment for the rest of his life?
What do you do when you can’t reach your destination? We can endure the pain and determine NOT to allow it to take over our life; then do what Paul did...
It was probably painful, so he did the one thing that COULD change his life for the better—He took his problem to God!
Your second option is to do what Paul did.
Your second option is to do what Paul did.
Joseph, David, Daniel, Paul, and Jesus ALL refused to FREEZE IN PLACE—they took the problem to God!
2. Pray fervently and listen for God’s voice!
2. Pray fervently and listen for God’s voice!
Look what Pail says in:
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me (
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
Paul had had some amazing things happen to him in his life—he knew what it was to live on the mountain and he learned how to live in the valley. Imagine how he felt when he realized, he would live with his physical ailment for the rest of his life?
Paul had had some amazing things happen to him in his life—he knew what it was to live on the mountain and he learned how to live in the valley. Imagine how he felt when he realized, he would live with his physical ailment for the rest of his life?
It was probably painful, so he did the one thing that COULD change his life for the better—he took his problem to God!
Joseph, David, Daniel, Paul, and Jesus ALL refused to FREEZE IN PLACE—they took the problem to God!
He learned lessons from other who experienced pain: Joseph, David, Daniel, and Jesus ALL refused to FREEZE IN PLACE—they took the problem to God!
So Paul prayed fervently three times and got an answer—but not the one he wanted!
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (
9 and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.
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Paul prayed and worked through the problems, and waited until God was ready to answer.
They prayed and worked through the problems, and waited until God was ready to answer.
When we pray it doesn’t bring a change, and you sense God saying, “This is going to stay with you,” then find the good in the bad situation.
If that doesn’t bring a change, and you sense God saying, “This is going to stay with you,” then find the good in the bad situation.
says, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...”
Paul found a way to believe that God’s grace was sufficient for him, that God’s power would be even better displayed in his weakness, through his physical infirmity.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
So what do we do when we get an answer we don’t want?
3. Accept reality, find the good in it, and use the hardship for God’s glory.
3. Accept reality, find the good in it, and use the hardship for God’s glory.
Paul continues:
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Whatever it was Paul had, he determined to use it for God’s glory.
When Jesus was facing his darkest moment, wrestling with the unreachable destination of staying alive and avoiding the agony of the Cross, he chose this option. He prayed fervently, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” ().
The second time he prayed about not having to face his inevitable hardship, his prayer changed slightly: “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” ().
He accepted reality, found the good in it, and determined to use his hardship for God’s glory. In this case, for the saving of mankind.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
says, Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Can you imagine how sick Jesus’ heart must have been in those closing moments before his arrest? He was a man who knew everything, so he knew what was coming. He knew the pain and suffering He would endure. He knew his hope was going to have to defer to another day—to His future life after the grave.
Can you imagine how sick Jesus’ heart must have been in those closing moments before his arrest? He knew everything, so he knew what was coming! He knew the pain and suffering He would endure. He knew his hope was going to have to defer to another day—to His future life after the grave.
He was a man who knew everything, so he knew what was coming. He knew the pain and suffering He would endure. He knew his hope was going to have to defer to another day—to His future life after the grave.
Our hope is deferred because we realize dreams aren’t going to come true.
For example:
“I’m probably not going to get married, or get married again... at least not for a long, long time.”
“I’m not going to be able to keep my home, or keep my job, or get the promotion I always wanted, or have the kind of health I assumed would be mine.”
Hope deferred makes the heart sick!
This is a reality of life on earth! Earth is earth—it is not heaven. Jesus said, In this world you will have trouble... (Matthew 16:33).
This is a reality of life on earth! Earth is earth—it is not heaven.
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
I don’t know a single person who has had ALL their dreams fulfilled. It probably would not even be healthy if they did!
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 6:33
I don’t know a single person who has had all their dreams fulfilled. I suspect it wouldn’t even be healthy if they did. There is something that softens us, something that enables us to admit we are not all that, something humbling (in a positive way) about not having all our dreams fulfilled.
In fact, I don’t believe we would be all God intends for us to be if all our dreams were fulfilled.
there is something that softens us, something that enables us to admit we are not all that, something humbling (in a positive way) about not having all our dreams fulfilled.
Consider the following verses, and notice the “buts”:
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Hope deferred makes the heart sick; BUT a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Matthew 16:33
In this world you will have trouble. BUT take heart! I have overcome the world. Matthew 16:33
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick; BUT a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...” (
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Joseph was sold into slavery and spent years in prison on a false charge—then God restored him and made his dreams come true after he was humbled.
David last his child and learn humility through the pain of his loss—then after he surrendered to God, he became the apple of God’s eye.
Daniel learned humility as he saw his country decimated and he was drug off as a slave, he stood firm in his faith and refused to bow to other gods—then God raised him up and used him to advise the king.
Paul suffered an ailment that impeded his ministry and caused him so much suffering, he asked God for relief. God answered him with a “No” and told him “His grace was sufficient!”
Jesus was in agony over the suffering he would endure on the Cross, He prayed, if it was His Father’s will for a possible alternate route to attain our salvation—yet He submitted to His Father’s decision and suffered an agonizing death—SO WE COULD BE REDEEMED!
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
:8-11
ILLUSTRATION
In 2015, Billie and I were excited to come to Kwaj. We knew it was God’s will for us and you. Today we are excited to return because we know it is God’s will for us—and God’s will for you!
Remember our scripture:
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Matthew 16:33
MY DREAM is for YOU, is to stay on the path!
To ENDURE and NOT freeze in place.
Spend time TALKING to God and hearing His voice.
Accept reality, find the good in the problem, and use the hardship for God’s glory.
28 That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
So what do you do when your hope gets deferred?
1. Endure the pain and determine NOT to allow it to freeze me in place!
2. Pray fervently and listen for God’s voice.
3. Accept reality, find the good in it, and use your hardship for God’s glory.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
As we close out this series today—I want you to remember principles the past 5 weeks:
1. Your direction determines your destination. ()
2. Life is a series of mid-course corrections. ()
) 2. Life is a series of mid-course corrections. (
3. We shouldn’t trust our hearts but should trust our hearts to God. ()
) 3. We shouldn’t trust our hearts but should trust our hearts to God. (
4. Reputation matters, so choose the story you will tell. ()
) 4. Reputation matters, so choose the story you will tell. (
2. Life is a series of mid-course corrections. ()
4. Wise people seek counsel. ()
) 5. Wise people seek counsel. (
5. Attention determines focus/direction. ()
3. Trust God not you heart. ()
) 6. Attention determines focus/direction. (
4. Reputation matters, so choose the story you will tell. ()
5. Wise people seek counsel. ()
)
6. Attention determines focus/direction. ()
From today remember this fact: GOD IS WORKING HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE!
GOD has a PLAN is for YOU!
Stay on the path! ENDURE--DON’T freeze in place!
TALK to Him; hear His voice!
Accept reality, find the good in problems, and use the hardships for God’s glory.
AND as you walk YOUR PATH, know God longs to do outrageously good things for you and through you!
He loves you and he wants to bless you. He wants you to experience His joy. He wants your life to count!
7. When you know you won’t reach you destination—remember this verse:
You may not reach every destination YOU plan—remember God is still working HIS plan to ensure you reach the greatest destination of your life.
When you know you won’t reach the destination YOU planned—remember God is still working HIS plan!
28 That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
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Stay on the path! ENDURE--DON’T freeze in place!
ENDURE--DON’T freeze in place!
TALK to Him; hear His voice!
Accept reality, find the good in the problem, and use the hardship for God’s glory.
AND KNOW as you walk YOUR PATH, know God longs to do outrageously good things for you!
He loves you and he wants to bless you. He wants you to experience His joy. He wants your life to count!
MUNSON 2018
Remember our scripture:
“Someday, all of us will die. Our paths will end at eternities Gate. The dreams that count, will not be the colleges I pursued, the power I attained, or the status in life I acquired. Only those things that sought to serve and bring glory to God will follow me into glory; everything else will be tossed in the fire as worthless.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
When I cross over the finish line and enter into the presence of the One whose nail-scarred hands paid the price for my life, I long to hear the words cherished by every other person who preceded me, and all who will follow, “Well done good and faithful servant!”
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.