The American Dream Vs. The Heavenly Dream…

Please click on the Scripture passages below to read them.

The American Dream Involves Humans Having/Getting What We Want NOW (Matthew 16:26) (2 Timothy 3:1-5) (Luke 15:11-12) And In Order To Achieve It Requires Much Time, Energy and Money With A Focus on Self and Earthly Results/Rewards.

1. A Great Physical Body (1 Corinthians 15:35-58)
2. Much Financial Wealth (Psalm 49:5-14) (Matthew 19:16-24) (1 Timothy 6:10)
3. Success/Personal Achievement (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11)
4. Fame/Public Spotlight/Attention From Others Now And Forever (John 3:26-31) (John 12:42-43) (Genesis 11:3-4) (Psalm 49:11) (Psalm 9:5) (Psalm 34:16)
5. Control/Independence/Freedom From Needing/Relying On God/Others (Psalm 2:1-3) (John 15:15)
6. Lots of Thrills/Fun/Dynamic Experiences (Proverbs 30:8-9) (1 Corinthians 4:10-12) (Luke 12:19)
7. Constant/Immediate/Physical Pleasure (Proverbs 21:17) (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11) (Ecclesiastes 7:4) (1 Timothy 5:6) (Titus 3:3) (Hebrews 11:25-26) (2 Peter 2:12-15)
8. Avoiding Pain/Discomfort/Heartache At All Costs (Isaiah 47:8-15) (Zephaniah 2:15) (Luke 19:20-22) (Hebrews 10:38-39)
9. A Life On Earth That Lasts Forever (Immortality) (Psalm 39:4-5) (Psalm 90:12) (James 4:13-16)
10. Being Busy (Psalm 39:6) (Psalm 46:10)

1. The Heavenly Dream Involves Humans Knowing, Loving, Trusting, Obeying, Worshiping and Enjoying God (Vertical) and Humans Sacrificially Serving Others (Horizontal) With A Focus on FUTURE (Heavenly) Rest/Rewards (Micah 6:8) (Mark 12:28-30) (Matthew 6:19-21)A. That God’s Will Would Be Done/His Dreams Would Come True (Jeremiah 29:11-14) (Matthew 6:9-10) (Acts 2:23) (Hebrews 11:39-40)

1. That God Alone Will Reign/Be In Charge Of Everything/Everyone (Exodus 15:18) (Psalm 47:6-9) (Psalm 146:10) (Revelation 19:6)
2. That God’s Fame Will Cover the Earth (Isaiah 11:9) (Habakkuk 2:14)
3. That God’s True Peace Will Cover/Fill The Entire Earth (No More Suffering/Death) (Isaiah 9:1-7) (Isaiah 25:7-9) (Isaiah 32:15-18) (Ezekiel 37:26-28) (Isaiah 65:25) (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) (Revelation 7:17) (Revelation 21:4)
4. That Humans Would Do What God Made Them To Do (Mission) (John 14:23)(Ephesians 2:10) And Become Who God Made Them To Be (Holiness) (Romans 8:29) (Hebrews 8:10) 

   i.      That Humans Would Seek God Above All Other Things (Deuteronomy 4:29) (1 Chronicles 22:19a) (1 Chronicles 28:9) (2 Chronicles 11:16) (2 Chronicles 4:14) (2 Chronicles 15:12) (Psalm 24:3-6) (Psalm 63:1)  (Jeremiah 29:11-14) (Acts 17:26-28) (Philippians 3:7-9)
   ii.      That Humans Would Intimately Know/Love/Be Reconciled to God Through Faith In Jesus Christ Alone (Genesis 5:21-24) (John 17:1-3) (Philippians 3:7-9) (John 6:28-29)
   iii.      That Humans Would Worship Only God (Exodus 20:1-3) (Luke 4:8) (Philippians 2:9-11)
   iv.      That Humans Would Live With God Forever In Heaven As His Sons and Daughters (Ezekiel 18:23) (Ezekiel 33:11) (Matthew 22:1-14) (John 1:12-13)
   v.      That Humans Would Voluntarily/Joyfully Choose to Submit Their Lives To God’s Control (2 Chronicles 30:8) (James 4:7)
   vi.      That Humans Would Put The Needs Of Others Ahead of Their Own Needs (John 15:13) (Philippians 2:1-8) (Ephesians 4:29)
   vii.      That Humans Would Be Willing To Give Up Their Earthly Lives To Participate With God As He Makes Letter “A” Above Become A Reality (Matthew 10:39)(2 Timothy 4:6-8) (2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2)

Which dream–WHOSE dream–will you choose?

Which dream–WHOSE dream–will you pursue?

(please click HERE for the song “Empty Me” by Chris Sligh)