Imagine

“May the Lord bless you and guard you.

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up His face unto you andgive you peace [shalom]!"

- The Aaronic Benediction, Numbers 6:24-25

“You may say that I’m a dreamer…

But I’m not the only one.”

- John Lennon

This Aaronic Benediction is the oldest known Biblical text that has been found. Bracelets with these verses written on them have been found in graves dating from the First Temple period (960BC). It is commonly held that these verses were recited by the high priest during services and also by the people at bedtime to chase away bad dreams. Even 3000 years ago, bad dreams were a Big Deal! They are the subconscious consequence of living in a world that no longer operates the way God intended.

When our children were small we would sometimes hear at night the fast trot of tiny feet racing down the hallway and they would burst into our room crying, “Dad…Dad…I had a Bad Dream!” And as they scrambled up into bed with us, we would assure them that they were safe because we loved them and they had a big God who was with them. I remember one time one of them said, “I had a bad dream and I wet my bed.” I asked, “What did you see?” They said, “I saw a big toilet!” I replied, “Whenever you see a big toilet in your dreams, don’t use it!” Seemed like great advice at the time.

The fact is, ever since the crunching of the apple in Eden, God’s people have longed for “Shalom” — the Way Things Oughta Be! We’ve all found ourselves dreaming of the way it was in Eden:

…limitless chocolate with no consequences

…pastoring a church in Maui

…idiot-free commute to a hassle-free job you love

…hugging friends “Mask-Free”

…hostile social division eclipsed by Love

…no pain…no suffering…no broken hearts

“Imagine"…a young songwriter sang…“all the people living life in peace!”

What we long for is “Shalom” — Peace — Heaven on Earth! When there’s a gap between the Way Things Oughta Be and the Way Things Really Are in your world, what should we do to find peace? Last week, teaching from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Pastor Jared said that when things in your world are not as they oughta be, ”Smack them in the face with glorious truth — that you are eternal and that you have eternal life with God!”

Sometimes it helps if we live the End at the Beginning — In other words, imagine your promised eternal destiny with Jesus in Heaven and pull that down into your world today! Shalom!

Pastor Harry

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