Matthew 1:18-25
WHEN YOUR DREAM BECOMES A NIGHTMARE
Intro: Although no one was near enough to hear it, it ultimately echoed
around the world. None of the passengers in the DC-4 ever knew what
happened; they died instantly. That was February 15, 1947. The Avianca
Airline flight bound for Quito, Equador, crashed clumsily into the 14,000
foot-high towering peak of El Tablazo not far from Bogota. Then it dropped,
a flaming mass of metal, into a ravine far below. A young New Yorker, Glenn
Chambers, was one of its victims. He planned to begin a ministry with the
Voice of the Andes, a lifelong dream that suddenly aborted into a nightmare.
Before leaving the Miami Airport earlier that day, Chambers hurriedly
dashed off a note to his mom on a piece of paper he found on the floor of
the terminal. That scrap of paper was once a printed piece of advertisement
with the single word WHY sprawled across the center. But between the
mailing and the delivery of that note, Chambers was killed. When the letter
did arrive, there staring up at his mom was the haunting question--WHY?
Of all the questions it is the most searching, the most tormenting. No single
truth removes the need to ask Why? like this one. Here it is:
GOD IS TOO KIND TO DO ANYTHING CRUEL …
TOO WISE TO MAKE A MISTAKE …
TOO DEEP TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF.
Mrs. Chambers stopped asking Why? when she saw the Who behind the
scene. All other sounds are muffled when we claim His absolute
sovereignty. Even the deafening sound of a crashing DC-4.
Have you ever experienced that gut wrenching moment when your
dream become a nightmare and you find yourself in the starring role? We
all have! Have you ever asked "Why?" as you looked at the shattered
remains of your plans and dreams? We all have! This morning I want to
show you a better alternative than asking "Why?" I want to point out the
witness of a man by the name of Joseph. He saw all his dreams fall into a
million pieces at his feet. What happened in his life is worthy of note this
morning. It may help you and me when our dreams are shattered. I want
to preach for a while on this thought: When Your Dream Becomes A
Nightmare.
I. V. 18 A SHATTERING DISCOVERY
A. It Was A Time Of Excitement - Mary and Joseph were betrothed to
one another. This was the ancient Hebrew engagement period. It
was as binding as a marriage. Surely they were excited about their
future together as husband and wife.
B. It Was A Time Of Expectation - The Bible tells us that these took
place "before they came together". Surely they were both counting
down the days until they could be together and live together as
husband and wife.
C. It Was A Time Of Embarrassment - During this betrothal period
both the bride and the groom were to keep themselves physically
pure for the other spouse. Unlike our day, this was a time when
both men and women were expected to go into the marriage as pure
virgins. But, it was during this time that Joseph discovered that his
bride was pregnant. This would have been a source of great
embarrassment both to Mary and Joseph, as well as to their
respective families. It seemed that all the dreams Joseph had for
the future had been shattered by this devastating news.
(Note: Isn't this just how life is at times? We make all our plans for the
future and set things up just the way we want they to be, then some
event or the other takes place and we see our hopes, our plans and our
dreams fall down all around us! When these things happen, it breaks
our hearts because it is unexpected and even unwanted. However, like
Joseph, we are often blind to the fact that God is at work behind the
scenes. It fact, it was God Who shattered our dreams! That may be
hard to understand, but it is still how things work.
The Bible is clear on this matter! Our God works His will in our lives
in ways that we cannot begin to comprehend, Isa. 55:8-9. His plans for
us are rarely what we would plan for ourselves, Job 1-2. But, His plans
are always the best, even when they hurt us deeply, Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor.
4:15-17.
We may not like it when the Lord shatters our dreams and our
hopes, but when everything has been said and done, we will see that
His plan was the perfect plan all along! (Ill. Joseph - His path lead him
from the place of prominence in his father's house, through a pit, into
Potipher's house and though a prison. In the end, he would up in the
place of power. It would never have happened had God not first
shattered his dreams!)
II. V. 19 A SOBERING DELIBERATION
A. Joseph's Character Is Revealed - In the midst of this most difficult
of situations, Joseph's true self is revealed. We are told that he was
a "just" man. This simply means that he was blameless under the
Law and that he walked by faith in the Lord. He was a man of God
before these events befell him and what he was in his heart came to
surface in his trials. (Note: The times when life goes wrong from our
perspective is the time when we can see our true selves. For what
we are in the worst of times is what we really are in our hearts!
Again, I would call your attention to Job 1:20-22. What Job was in
his trouble revealed what had always been in his heart! This is what
God knew about him before the calamities came, Job 1:8. Anyone
can rejoice when life is good, but it takes a consecrated life to shout
when life falls to pieces. How you respond toward God in a time of
crisis reveals the depths of your commitment to God and to His will.)
B. Joseph's Choices Are Revealed - When it all boils down to the
bottom line, Joseph has but three choices.
1.) He can publically humiliate Mary because of what he perceives
to be her immorality. This choice could possibly lead to her
death under the Law, Deut. 22:13-21.
2.) He can divorce her quietly and just walk away from her, leaving
her to raise the child in shame and poverty.
3.) He can marry her and raise the child as if it were his own. This
last option would rarely have been chosen by a Jewish man.
(Note: To Joseph, none of the choices seemed appealing, but he had
to choose one of them. Often life presents us with choices that are less
than appealing to our human nature. Our duty in those times is to listen
to the voice of God and seek to do that one thing that He wants us to do
in our situation.)
C. Joseph's Compassion Is Revealed - Joseph's decision is to react
toward Mary in compassion. This was not an easy decision to
reach, but it was a decision that was in the best interests of Mary.
Instead of making a public example out of her, and perhaps even
bringing about her death, Joseph decides to deal with her in a quiet
manner. Even though he is sure that she has been unfaithful to him,
he still loves her and wants to do the right thing by her. (Note: This
says a lot about Joseph! As I have already said, how we respond in
a time of crisis reveals a great deal about the depth of our walk with
God. How we respond to those who have hurt us is also an indicator
of the depth of our spiritual walk. If we can learn anything from the
example of Joseph it is that we should never let the hurt others inflict
upon us to cause us to retaliate in an effort to hurt them in return.
We need to deal with those around us who hurt us in compassion.
In fact, the Lord Jesus told us to go farther than that! He said that
we were to forgive those who offended us without reservation - Matt.
18:21-35; Luke 17:1-5. This is also the command from the Spirit of
God through the Apostle Paul, Eph. 4:32.)
III. V. 20-23 A SATISFYING DECLARATION
(Note: I find it interesting to note here that the Lord did not send Joseph
the answer for direction he was looking for until after he had reached a
decision on his own. Sometimes the Lord will allow us to exhaust all our
human reasoning before He gives us divine insight into the situation we
are facing in life.)
A. V. 20 It Was A Declaration Of Divine Providence - As these
thoughts troubled the mind of Joseph, the Lords sent an angel to
speak to him in a dream. The angel brought Joseph a word of Explanation, of Exaltation, and of Exhilaration. Joseph was made
to understand the origin of the child his bride carried. He was made
to understand that this dream of his that had turned into a nightmare
in his heart and mind was really a miraculous work of God. (Note:
Our vantage point works against us! I have often described the way
we look at life as watching a parade go by while standing between
two buildings. All you are able to see of the parade is that portion
that is passing directly in front of you at any given moment. You
have a memory of what has already passed, but you have no idea
as to what is coming down the street. You just have to wait until it
gets to you. However, if you were to climb on top of the building,
you would be able to see the parade in its entirety. You could see
the beginning, the middle and the end all at the same time. There
would be no surprises!
Well, isn't life like that for us? All we can really see is that part
that is passing before our eyes at the present time. We have a
vague memory of that which has gone before, but we have no idea
about what is coming our way. However, God sits above it all. To
Him, there are no surprises! He knows the end from the beginning.
The best thing we can ever learn to do is to simply trust Him to
bring the best into our lives day by day. Even when our dreams are
shattered and our hopes are dashed to pieces on the jagged rocks
of reality, we need to trust the truth that our Father is still in control
and He will take care of His children! Despite what you and I may
think at times, God does know what is best for us!)
B. V. 21 It Was A Declaration Of Divine Provisions - Joseph is given
details of a miracle that much of the world still hasn't grasped: God
entered this world through the womb of a Jewish virgin! Joseph is
told that Mary will have a son and that this son is to be named
Jesus. He is also told that this son will be the Savior of the Jews.
That is quite a revelation! In a nutshell, Joseph is made aware that
this child is no ordinary baby. He is in fact the Son of God. His
name will reflect that because the name Jesus means "Jehovah is
Salvation". His life will reflect this because He will be responsible for
the salvation of the lost. This He will accomplish through His death
on the cross, His resurrection from the dead and His ascension back
into Heaven. Surely Joseph doesn't know all the details about this
miracle child his bride carries in her womb, but he knows enough to
be sure that child is a divine provision for the sins of the world.
(Note: May we never forget that it is from the wreckage of our
greatest hurts that God often builds for us the greatest of blessings!
Just because the way is dark, do not stop holding to His hand. He
may lead you through some desolate places, but He will never
forsake you in any of them, Psa. 23:4. Wherever His path leads
you, you can count on His provisions to be sufficient for the need of
the hour, 2 Cor. 12:9; Heb. 13:5; Phil. 4:19.)
C. V. 22-23 It Was A Declaration Of Divine Presentations - Joseph
is shown that the child Mary carries in her womb is none other than
the Deliverer Whom the world has waited on since man sinned in the
garden of Eden, Gen. 3:15. This baby is to be the fulfillment of all
the prophecies of the Old Testament. He is to be the end of the
Law. He will flesh out all the types fo the Old Testament. He is to
be the fulfillment of prophecy, but He is far more than that: He is to
be God in human flesh. Joseph is allowed to see that his hurt, his
anger and his confusion were necessary to bring about the greatest
miracle the world has ever known: God becoming flesh and entering
the world to die as a man, John 1:1; 14; Phil. 2:5-8! (Note: When
your dreams are shattered, your plans are derailed and your hopes
are all destroyed, remember that while it may look bleak from our
perspective, God is working out His perfect will in your life and mine.
Therefore, lat us walk confidently with our hand held safely in His
grasp, even when we cannot see the way or understand the why.
He will bring us to the place where it all makes sense someday.
From where I stand right now, I cannot see what God has placed in
my future. I am facing some puzzling events in my life at the
present, but I know that down the road, in a place I have not arrived
at yet, my questions are answered and my needs are met. That is
how God operates! Our duty to Him is to walk with Him humbly by
faith until He brings us to the place where He has already placed our
provisions. You see, while we are toiling here today, He has already
gone into tomorrow and arranged our path, supplied our need and
lifted our burden. Therefore, just walk, one step at time. You will
arrive at the place where the questions are answered and the needs
are met, in His time!)
IV. V. 24-25 A SHOCKING DECISION
A. Joseph's Quick Reaction - As soon as Joseph understands what
is happening in his life, he reacts in faith. He goes and takes Mary
into his home and his heart as his wife. His is a response of pure
faith. He still doesn't know how things will work out, but he knows
that God is working and that is enough for Joseph. Joseph's
decision must have shocked the whole community. Everyone
probably assumed that Joseph and Mary had not been able to wait
for the wedding. He was willing to bear the shame of Mary's
pregnancy because he knew it was the work of God. (Note: True
faith does not shrink from the call of God just because others do not
understand. True faith hears the voice of the Lord and simply does
as it is told.)
B. Joseph's Qualified Restraint - Joseph may have taken Mary into
his home, but he refrains from having sexual relations with her. He
respects the plan of God and knows that she is to be a virgin when
Jesus is born. This too is a response of faith. Instead of demanding
what was rightfully his as her husband, he willingly lays aside his
rights so that the will of God might be accomplished! (Note: True
faith willingly puts aside its own desires to do the will of God. Often,
God's call on our lives will be hard to accept and hard to do, but faith
doesn't seek the easier road. Faith knows that God has already
surveyed the way and knows where He wants His servants. Faith
says, "Here am I, send me!" Isa. 6:8.)
C. Joseph's Quiet Resolve - Joseph waited patiently until Mary gave
birth to her son. No doubt Joseph cared for the expectant mother as
best he could. When the time came and the baby was born, Joseph
did the job of the father, he named the boy Jesus. Naming the child
was the responsibility of the Father, Luke 1:63. Joseph is saying
that he is willing to embrace the plan of God for his life, even though
he doesn't fully understand it. He is willing to raise this child as his
own, even though he knows the baby is not his son. Joseph is
saying this: "I had my life all planned out! Mary and I were to be
married and we were going to life together for many years. We
were going to have lots of children and be very happy. Then,
I found out she was pregnant. I knew the baby wasn't mine, but
I did not know who's it was. I was hurt! All my plans and
dreams were shattered. But, then the Lord showed me that He
had a better plan for my life! He called me to be the surrogate
human father to the Messiah! What I thought was a great
tragedy was in fact the greatest blessing of my life!" (Note: If
you don't get anything else out of this message, please get this:
what you think is the worse thing that has ever happened to you will
often turn out to be your greatest blessing! I think the difference
between those who experience God's best in the tragedies of life
and those who do not all comes down to simple faith. Some people
simply will not trust God for anything and as a result they are always
defeated and never able to rise above their circumstances. Others
do trust Him, knowing that He knows best. These people experience
His best, even in the most difficult moments of life imaginable.)
Conc: Have you ever had a dream turn into a nightmare before your very
eyes? We all have at one time or another. Most of us will face this again
before life is through with us. I just want to ask you this question: When
your dreams turn into nightmares what are you doing about it?
Some people try to fix it themselves. Friend, it won't work! You will only
make it worse. Some people just quit. That won't work either, because
whether you participate or not, life goes on. Still others become angry and
God and their fellow man and try to make others pay for their own hurts.
That attitude is no good at all! The only person you really hurt is your self.
Of course, there are a precious few who are able to take the pieces of their
broken dreams, lay them at the feet of the Lord and say, "Lord, I don't
understand why this has happened to me. I never wanted this, but it
has happened nonetheless. I am here before you now to ask for you
help. Even though I cannot see it, I know that you have something
better for me than I had planned for myself. Please give me grace to
believe it and faith to see it." Those are the people who walk in victory,
even in the midst of their worst nightmare.
What kind of person are you? What are you doing with your broken
dreams? I invite you to bring your life to Jesus, mess and all. Let Him have
is and let Him do with it that which He wants to do. He does have
something better planned for you, the way to receive it is to react to Him in
faith.
Maria and her daughter, Christina, lived in a poor neighborhood on the
outskirts of a Brazilian village. Maria's husband had died when Christina was
an infant and she never remarried. Times were tough but at last Christina
was old enough to get a job to help out.
Christina spoke often of going to the city. She dreamed of trading her
dusty neighborhood for exciting avenues and the city life. Just the thought
of that horrified her mother, who knew exactly what Christina would have to
do for a living. That's why her heart broke. That's why she couldn't believe
it when she awoke one morning to find her daughter's bed empty. Knowing
where her daughter was headed, she quickly threw some clothes in a bag,
gathered up all of her money, and ran out of the house.
On her way to the bus stop she entered a drugstore and got one last
thing. Photos. She sat in the photograph booth, closed the curtain, and
spent all the time she could on making photos of herself. With her purse full
of small black-and-white photos, she boarded the next bus to Rio de
Janeiro.
Maria knew Christina had no way of earning money. She also knew that her
daughter was too stubborn to give up. When pride meets hunger, a human
being will do things that were before unthinkable. Knowing this, Maria began
her search. Bars, hotels, nightclubs, any place with the reputation for street
walkers or prostitutes. She went to them all. And at each place Maria left her
photo--taped to a bathroom mirror, tacked to a hotel bulletin board,
fastened to a corner telephone booth. And on the back of each photo she
wrote a note. Then her money and the pictures ran out, Maria went home.
A few weeks later young Christina descended the hotel stairs. Her young
face was tired. Her dreams had become a nightmare. But as she reached
the bottom of the stairs, her eyes noticed a familiar face. She looked again,
and there on a lobby mirror was a small picture of her mother. Christina's
eyes burned and her throat tightened as she walked across the room and
removed the small photo. Written on the back was a compelling invitation,
"Whatever you've done, whatever you have become, it doesn't matter.
Please come home." And she did.
If your dreams are lying in shattered pieces around you right now, and
have turned into nightmares, please bring them to Jesus and let Him turn
them into a source of glory and rejoicing. Regardless of what has become
of your life, you can bring it to Jesus right now.
