Maybe historic global revival will come in your lifetime, but maybe not. Maybe Jesus will return in your lifetime, but maybe not. But ultimately, those are not things we instigate. They are things we pray for and prepare for with a humble recognition of God’s sovereignty in all things.
King David’s Short-Sightedness
King David was tempted by self-importance and short-sightedness. He had a God-given vision for a permanent resting place for God on the earth — a permanent temple in Jerusalem where God’s glory could dwell (Psalm 132). It was a beautiful vision that was inspired by the Lord.
David was truly prophetic. Many of the Psalms speak prophetically of Christ’s first coming and even Jesus’ second coming. He saw what God wanted, but he was short-sighted.
David thought he would build the temple for God. He thought that everything he saw prophetically would come to pass in his own lifetime. He had to learn that his dreams were actually God’s dreams, not his own, and that God’s timeline is often different from ours.
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.”
2 Samuel 7:11-12
God confronted David in 2 Samuel 7 with two revelations. These truths will confront our own sense of self-importance, if we will heed God’s word.
- God told David that He was going to build a house for David, not the other way around (2 Samuel 7:11).
- God told David that the vision in His heart would be fulfilled through his lineage (2 Samuel 7:12).
This word for David humbled him, shifted his perspective and expanded his mindset beyond what he could accomplish in his own lifetime. He shifted his energy towards preparing for future generations. He began accumulating supplies, training the Levites and discipling Solomon for the generational hand-off at the end of his life.
Stewarding Your God-Given Dreams
Whatever dreams/desires/visions God has given you, hold them in faith. Pray for them. And share them with the next generation. Maybe you’ll see their fulfillment, but maybe your natural/spiritual kids will. Don’t abandon your God-given dreams, but don’t make assumptions about the timing.
We should do some equivalent of how David was “gathering supplies” and “training the Levites.” Proverbs 13:22 says “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” We should think generationally about our resources, finances and discipleship. How can we prepare future generations to go further and climb higher than we did? Maybe our dreams will be realized by our grandchildren?