Tourism

If we’re talking about real jobs rather than dream jobs, I’d like to work in the tourism industry. I often find myself envying people who work in beauty spots, such as Glengarriff County Cork. There’s a little boat that brings people on a small journey to the Garnish Island. I’d like to pilot that boat for a day😀.

If we can dream, I’d like to have been in the studio with the Beatles or Pink Floyd. Although having read biographies and watched documentaries, it wasn’t always much fun. Much of it was mundane, and lots of tensions and grudges would develop over time.

Spiritually, I’d love if I was allowed one day, when I could work real miracles, especially healing people. Or, if I could go back in time and prevent a tragic accident from happening. I often wonder what Jesus meant when he told his disciples that they would do greater works than he did.

John 14:12-14
¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Well, the disciples did perform miracles in the book of Acts, but perhaps he was talking about works that would be greater in that they would have a bigger long-term impact. For example, let’s say you do two things in one day.

• Raise a person from the dead.
• Present the gospel to someone and have them repent and trust in Jesus.

In the world’s view, the first is greater. But the person will still need to face the trials of life, they’ll get sick again and they will eventually die.

In the second case, yes, the person will still need to face the trials of life in this world, but they can know that they will live with God, his angels, and his people forever in heaven. From heaven’s perspective, that’s a far more significant thing.

You can see that when Jesus healed a paralysed man (See Matt 9:1-8). He first deal with the most important matter, his spiritual state. So what was the best thing that happened to that man that day? In the public mind, it was his physical healing, but really, it was his spiritual healing. And the fact that Jesus was able to work the physical miracle demonstrated that he really can forgive sins.

So, I can’t heal people physically, but I can pray for them. In that case, the matter is brought before God, and God decides what’s ultimately going to be best for that person. And of course, by taking care of our health and being careful not to endanger others, we can help to reduce suffering in the world.

And I can present the gospel, which, if the Holy Spirit is at work with them, will enable them to respond and believe and spend eternity in heaven. And by praying, I can make it more likely that the power of the Holy Spirit will be at work when I spread the gospel.

So, we can dream in this world, and ultimately, our dreams will come true:

Revelation 21:1
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”