Visions and Dreams

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday 2010 and during my quiet time I read Acts Chapter 2. My attention was brought to verses 16-17:

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (TNIV)

Visions and dreams, visions and dreams, this kept running through my mind. What is the difference between a vision and a dream?

I brought up dictionary.com and searched for both vision and dream.

·         Vision

o    imagination or unusually keen perception

o    a mental image of something imaginary

·         Dream

o    Goal

o    Imagine as possible

Well, since the words imagination, imaginary and imagine were intertwined in the definitions of vision and dreams, the next step was to view the definitions of those 3 words:

·         Imagine—to think, to suppose or guess

·         Imagination—creativity

·         Imaginary—existing only in the imagination

Given these definitions may I share my takeaway, my hypothesis?

1.     We are in fact living in the last days

2.     We need to be looking to our younger adults for creativity

3.     Our older ministry leaders need to take these imaginations and define what is possible and set goals

While our younger adults are full of energy and have the creativity to imagine they need to yield to the experience of their older counterparts in determining goals and what is possible. At the same time older leaders can’t afford to squelch the creativity of youth.

The two working together will accomplish more for the kingdom.

I hope you will share your thoughts as you read this.