Continuing the dialogue.....
A Sleep of Prisoners
Dear Friend,
As a theater ministry, Acacia seeks to offer high quality theater, which affords the opportunity to view one's life in relationship to the fullness of God's truth. We pray that our shows offer an occasion for thanksgiving, growth, enjoyment and understanding. Without detracting from the theater experience, which we hope you enjoyed, and obviously without foreknowledge of topics dealt with in the "Talk Back," we would like to continue the dialogue by sharing some of the thoughts that the board of directors discussed after reading this play.
A season of Hope. Hope is desire accompanied by expectation of fulfillment. Hope gives promise to the future. Our best chance for hope – our best chance to have our desires realized – our best chance of having a promising future – is through faith in our God. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
It has been said that it is easy to have faith when things are going great. But it is far more difficult to have faith in God for victory and deliverance when we are in the midst of facing significant challenges. Jesus told us that all of us would have such challenges. He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
A Sleep Of Prisoners touches on several Biblical examples of how to have hope and faith during tough times. Abraham’s faith in God’s promise that he would be the father of many nations was so rock solid that he was obedient to God despite the obvious emotional difficulty of killing his pride and joy, the son he had waited so long for.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had great hope in God for an outstanding future, but things had to look bleak when they were about to be thrown into the fiery furnace. Yet they weren’t moved by what they saw, they rather believed and stated that God would deliver them. They told king, Nebuchadnezzar, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” (Daniel 3:17) They fixed their hope on God and expected deliverance.
The stories of Cain and Abel as well as David and Absalom, show a different reaction to God. Cain and Absalom both ran away from God. Some people react to trials and issues in their lives by blaming God and running from Him. In A Sleep Of Prisoners, the character Meadows says, “Behind us lie the thousand and the thousand and the thousand years, vexed and terrible. And still we use the cures which never cure.” Shortly after, Adams states, “Strange how we trust the powers that ruin and not the powers that bless.” Jesus tells us, “I have come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) God is on our side. And as the apostle Paul said to the Romans, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
If you are feeling far from God, ask yourself, who moved? It’s as if people are asking God, “What must I do to be near You?” And God is saying, “I’m here!! I’m ready. I’m with you. Don’t stand back. Engage Me.”
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
When you face the trials and tribulations in your life, be like Abraham. Be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Put your hope and your trust and your confidence in God. He always comes through.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. (2 Corinthians 4:8-14)
God is love. Love never fails. God loves you!! Overcome your challenges with a hopeful expectation of victory.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Acacia Theatre Company
