Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon[a] and set it by Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
-1 Samuel 5:1 - 5
Life has not turned out like I planned. I didn't plan to have a total of 7 children. I didn't plan to be in ministry. I didn't plan to live in Durham, North Carolina. I didn't plan to go through some of the things that I went through in marriage or in life. I had a different plan when I was 18 years old-- when I was 25 years old. I had dreams of a white picket fence, 2 children (a boy and a girl, twins obviously), and being a housewife in the suburbs. Our butler, Jeeves, was going to serve us in a full tuxedo almost daily. Before you laugh hysterically at my naivete, maybe you should think back on your dreams. Did you have some plan in your head for how things would be? Some of you may have written those things on paper. Others of you may have just filed them in your minds. If we are not careful, those imaginations can become a checklist of requirements rather than wishful thinking. We begin to compare our real lives with the fictional one that we created in our heads. We compare our husbands with the husband that we want him to be in our head. It is no surprise that they don't measure up because the one we are comparing them to is not real!
Sometimes our image is not a fake one but who we feel like our husband 'used to be'. We reminisce and long for way back when and we miss out on the beauty of now. We hold them hostage to what was and we refuse to embrace what is. We spend our time wishing for the past and not enriching our future. I read one time that once when the Mona Lisa was stolen more people came to see the blank spot where she once was than had actually come to see the painting. These people traveled, spent large amounts of money, and sacrificed their time to see a blank wall -- an empty space. That is exactly what we are doing when we are staring at what once was. I hate to say it, but those imaginations and memories can become idols, and God stands in direct opposition to idols. We must tear them down. We must dethrone the perfect husband from our hearts and begin to be thankful for the real husband that we have. As we demolish the image we will begin to see the great qualities in our actual spouses. Stop staring at blank walls and fake images. See what you have right in front of you. Tear down any idols you have including what you planned and what used to be.
The only way idols fall is when they are presented with the truth and presence of God. That's what happened in our scripture today. The idol, Dagon, was found on the ground on its face in the presence of God. Submit your plans and expectations, your "I thought by now" and "I wish", to God and allow Him to take control. He has a great plan for your life that is far better than you could imagine.
I started this by saying that my life is different than I planned, but I need to elaborate as I close this message. My life is better than I planned. I have gone through some challenges, but I have a wonderful husband and amazing children by my side. I have seen God love me through John and our children and that is better than any image I could ever think about. I have the privilege of sharing the gospel with people often, and to see someone embrace the truth of God's word blesses me beyond my wildest dreams. I don't have Jeeves working at this point, but I get the privilege of serving this wonderful family God has trusted me with. I stopped looking at what I don't have. I stopped looking at my plan. I stopped looking at who John used to be, and I am embracing all the blessings God has given me. This is not the life I planned. It is better.
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