By Jahzell Rodriguez

Dreams, as a child I was full of many dreams and desires, goals and aspirations. To me growing up meant being able to be successful, be able to afford all the commodities that I desired and admired as a child. I remember clearly the day I made my decision of what I would become when I grew up. I knew in my heart I wanted to serve God, but I didn?t know how I could reconcile serving him and wanting to pursue my own dreams. I said to myself, I will become a physician! I will help the less fortunate and I will be very successful. I dreamt of being called doctor.

Years Later, as I entered college, I was adamant I wanted to pursue medicine. Finally, my dream would become a reality. I enrolled in all the classes I needed to pursue my dream. Little did I know my life would be turned upside down, that Jesus could come and interrupt.

You see, I believed in Jesus. I would go to church, I would say my daily prayers and from time to time read a passage here and there. I even knew when the pastor would preach the similar messages. I would say to myself that I was in good standing with God. I believed in him and I felt that was enough.

As I embarked on my journey through college, I began to discover that my dream had a very sour taste. Every step I took forward to pursue my dream made me feel empty, I knew that this wasn?t what I had imagined it would be. I wanted more. I wanted to feel fulfilled.

In the book of Acts, we find a young man who had a similar thought. He believed that by taking a path that he thought was right, he was going to honor and serve God. That his actions would leave him in a right standing with God. This young man began his journey persecuting and arresting Christians. He was so deeply and passionately committed to his dream that he went to the extreme length of even casting his vote to kill Christians. This young man was none other than the apostle Paul:

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2?and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3?Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4?And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ?Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?? 5?And he said, ?Who are you, Lord?? And he said, ?I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6?But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.? Acts 9:1-6.

You see, Paul believed that by trying to stop the gospel from spreading, he would be in good standing with God. He believed in God and in his mind, his path would put him in well with God. He, of course, did not realize that God had other plans for him. On his way to Damascus, Jesus appears to Paul (Saul), interrupting him in his tracts. Paul did not recognize that it was God, until he called out to him. Paul did not truly know God intimately. He had no relationship with God. He believed in Him, but that wasn?t enough. Jesus wanted Paul to follow him. Jesus wanted me to follow him. He made me realize that He had other plans for me. Plans that were very different than what I had wanted. Plans that involved following him. He interrupted my journey, only to give me a greater one. He showed me that my dreams were far too small, so he gave me his.

I realized that what I had thought was right for me, was pushing me away from God, leaving me dry and empty. God?s plan and purpose is fulfilling and perfect. Believing in Jesus is not enough, you must be willing to answer his invitation ?come follow me?

He is calling you? Are you ready beginning a lifelong journey with him? Let Jesus interrupt your life.