Imagine

Encounter

One of the most recognizable songs in modern history is John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The song is a hopeful lament about peace in a restless and war-worn world. The paradox of this hopeful lament carries over into the role of imagination throughout the song. Lennon beckons listeners to imagine a better world in each verse, but in the chorus recognizes there is a measure of futility in imagining in a world that seems so bent on individualism, power, greed, etc.

While it is true there are some concerning aspects to Lennon’s song in regards to spirituality and religion, our focus through this Renew is less on Lennon’s views and more about this perplexing and sometimes difficult action of imagining.

In the past few weeks of our 730 Challenge readings, we’ve entered into the writings of the prophet Isaiah. Most of what we’ve been reading in Isaiah has been God’s confrontation to the many wrongs of the people of Judah and Israel. Every now and again peppered in with God’s confrontation are glimpses of God’s redemption that is to come.

When we talk about imagining a better world, Isaiah’s words of hope for the future seem right on track with Lennon’s song. The people of God were in denial about just how far from God they had gone, and therefore they were miles away from the ability to hear God’s confrontation let alone the reality of Isaiah’s prophecy about what future good was in store down the road. Yet, Isaiah faithfully followed God’s lead and we now know that God fulfilled many of His promises with more that are yet to be fulfilled when Christ comes again.

Again, I draw our attention back to our imaginations. God gave us the ability to imagine so we could dream about our future. But not our future alone. God gave us imagination so we could dream about our future with God, in relationship with Him. And our imagination of life with God is not based solely on our own beliefs and ideas about what would be nice and pleasant. We have well over 2000 years of biblical story as well as the testimonies of those with faith in Christ who’ve gone before us upon which we build our imagining of life with God.

Where Lennon’s hopeful lament is seen by many in the world as simple daydreaming, imagining life with God empowers God’s people to turn to Him as the source that turns imaginative thoughts into reality. Where daydreaming produces platitudes, imagining life with God produces the humility and confidence required for God’s transformation in the world. This transformation happens in the trenches of light against darkness - within one’s heart, between friends at odds, in the quiet listening to a crushed soul, in the bold intercession. This is the hope of Jesus Christ to His hurting world: genuine presence in the midst of real life. Can you imagine that?

Imagining life with God together,

Pastor Matt

Reflect

Read through the questions below. Before you answer them, close your eyes, breathe in deeply, then reflect.

Have you experienced the genuine presence of Jesus in the midst of real life? If so, what was it like? How did it make you feel? How did it change your view of what was happening in your life?

If you haven’t experienced the genuine presence of Jesus, what is the cry of your heart to Him?

Spiritual Practice

Read Isaiah 25:1-5

1 O Lord, I will honor and praise your name,   

for you are my God.

You do such wonderful things!   

You planned them long ago,   

and now you have accomplished them.

2 You turn mighty cities into heaps of ruins.   

Cities with strong walls are turned to rubble.

Beautiful palaces in distant lands disappear   

and will never be rebuilt.

3 Therefore, strong nations will declare your glory;   

ruthless nations will fear you.

4 But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord,   

a tower of refuge to the needy in distress.

You are a refuge from the storm   

and a shelter from the heat.

For the oppressive acts of ruthless people   

are like a storm beating against a wall,

5   or like the relentless heat of the desert.

But you silence the roar of foreign nations.   

As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat,   

so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled.

Grab a piece of paper and a pencil or pen. For those who are artistic (or for those looking for a new way of encountering Scripture), draw what comes to mind about this Scripture. For those who are less artistic, consider copying the Scripture word-for-word or writing out what sticks out to you about this Scripture and why.

Gather

As you gather in life groups, triads, or with family around the dinner table ask:

• When was the last time you let your imagination run wild?

• Did anything come from letting your imagination run wild?

• What is the value of imagination?