At special times such as celebrating one’s birthday or favorite holidays, the subject of wishes arises of itself.  Those close to us are suddenly keen to know what would please us—what we might like, feel want of or desire.  Some ask our preferences because they are interested in our thoughts on how to enhance the pleasure of the whole family or group on the occasion at hand.  Such curiosity is somewhat rare.  Human beings as a rule, are not often asked for their wishes and are not generally thanked for making them known.

The odd thing about most of humanity is that the scope of wishes that one is expected to make (and which one is accustomed to making), for some reason seldom involves things, conditions or states of being that one already possesses or enjoys.  It is as if an unwritten rule is in operation, which outlaws contentment and fixes its mandate on acquisition of the new, the “more,” the secret ingredient, the magical additive that will finally satisfy. It implies the need for imagination and creativity in wishing, but also suggests that what one has is not enough, is not fulfilling, and that all of the wishes expressed heretofore have not delivered the expected quotient of happiness.

Unlike wishes, which are typically associated with the light, bright and positive, dreams can be either or—fantasy or nightmare.  Dreams are often linked to difficult seasons of life, encompassing everything from strong yearnings for a better lot, to wistful but presumed to be hopeless longings for change. But they may also include long-term vision that lends shape to aspirations and offers guidance in realizing them.  

Popular culture relentlessly urges us to follow our dreams, usually without mention of commitment, cost or consequences for self or for others.  Both wishes and dreams have the capacity to “come true,” but in distinctly different ways.

Our wishes can be granted without effort on our part.  Dreams on the other hand, tend to manifest themselves in reality only if industriously and determinedly pursued—(hence the admonition to never give up on one’s dreams).   Curiously, dreamers are encouraged to “dream big,” even though these dreams are least likely to come true, due to scale (more ‘moving parts,’ the greater ability and investment required and the higher risk assumed).

In good times, our wishes and dreams tend to expand to the limit of our own credulity. In bad or uncertain times, they are scaled back, and though smaller and more probable, are cramped and constrained by our diminished ability to envision their coming to pass.

As you look around our world today, as you see what is happening and the direction in which things are headed, what are you wishing for?  Is it a return to some earlier day, one more innocent and secure than the present? Are you wishing for a future that holds more hope and promise than you and your loved ones are currently experiencing? Do you wish there were something or someone that you could believe in, that you could rely upon to remain stable and unchanging? What are you dreaming of, when you are able to dream?  Is it a world exactly like our own or nothing at all like it, not even remotely?  Then, I have good news.

There is something better than wishes and dreams.  It is more real and more substantive.  It’s called faith.  What is faith and how does it differ from wishes and dreams?  The word of God says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Substance.  Evidence of the reality of things not visible to human eyes.

Of what possible use is faith?  Faith enables us to believe God’s testimony about the universe: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear”  (Hebrews 11:3).  The universe did not come into being by itself.  It was created.  The power behind its creation was the word of God.  He called it into being, making something out of nothing.  

Good to know.  But what can I do with knowledge like this?

You can stop wondering, for one thing.  You are not alone. There is indeed a being greater than yourself (and by infinite orders of magnitude).  You are not a cosmic accident, the product of random chance. There is order, meaning and purpose behind your existence and that of others.

Interesting.  What else, if anything, is faith good for?

Well, if you liked that, you should definitely find this intriguing: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).

How can I be like Enoch?  How can I please God and how do I know for sure that He is pleased?  Religion doesn’t give me those answers.

No, but God has revealed them: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”  (Hebrews 11:6).

So…it’s not hard to please God on my own, it’s impossible.  The whole thing depends on faith, not on my own righteousness? And if I diligently seek God, He’ll reward me?  Reward me how, exactly?

By giving you a new kind of righteousness: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet [the worldwide flood], moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

When we believe that God exists and diligently seek Him, our greatest reward is that we find Him.  By faith, we please Him, because we come to Him humbly, His way, on His terms.  We become heirs of the righteousness that comes by God’s grace, through faith.

But for us to be heirs, beneficiaries of a testament or will, there must be one who has died, leaving us the legacy. Who is that person?  No, wait—I get it.  The one who died is Jesus—God’s Son.   Jesus left me His righteousness?  He made it possible for me to please God by faith…Faith in what?  In Him, I guess?

Right.  But by dying for your sins on the cross and paying—in your place—the penalty your sins deserve, Jesus gave you so much more.  He offers you reconciliation with God and makes it possible for you to establish a relationship with Him, if you truly want one. Consider the Patriarch Abraham, whom God called His friend (Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23).  God directed Abraham to pull up stakes and move, leaving everything behind, for a destination God would not disclose:

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

These [other men and women of faith named earlier in the chapter] all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:8-16).

Jesus talked about that city, making clear that it is a very real place that will one day stand on a brand new earth. Then, He made a spectacular promise (John 14:1-3):

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Jesus is coming back for His own, to take them to live with Him, eternally.  For those who belong to Him, this is the news more wonderful than any wish or dream could ever be.  To them, Jesus said (John 14:4): ‘You know where I am going and you know the way there’ (my paraphrase).  Do YOU know the way there? Do YOU know Jesus, “the way, the truth and the life?” (John 14:6) If not, here’s how:

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands). This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)