Sweet dreams

September 7, 2006

By Greg Ebie

I’m thankful I’m not given to nightmares. I used to have a dream from time to time that wasn’t fearful; it was monotonous and tiring. I found myself “racing” down a winding staircase of an infinitely tall building, running and even jumping from level to level.

On occasion, my dreams are more sinister. I remember once waking up from a threatening dream praying; I continued to pray for a moment and then rolled over and went back to sleep free from fear.

Years ago Susie had a dream that would be a mother’s nightmare. Rather than responding with fear, we prayed. God answered our prayers; nothing ever happened, and Susie had peace.

“The nightmares of the wicked come true;
what the good people desire, they get.
When the storm is over, there’s nothing left of the wicked;
good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren’t even fazed.”

(Proverbs 10:24,25, The Message)

What is the dream that terrorizes the wicked? What fills their hearts with fear and keeps them awake at night? Theirs is a nightmare called death.

Those separated from God fear death, and with good reason. Death is certain to overtake them, yet death holds no comfort. Death is the great unknown that overtakes us all; there is no escape from the monster known as death.

However, for the righteous there is no fear of death. Death is not a nightmare for those who have received the love of God. God has given us victory over death through His Son. Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead give us the certain hope that death has no power over us. We have received eternal life, which includes freedom from the fear of death.

I’m glad we have nothing to fear; we can lie down and sleep in peace with the assurance that when we one day sleep in death we will awaken in God’s eternal home of heaven. That’s no nightmare; that’s a dream come true!

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.