What we have in common with Walt Disney

Walt Disney passed away just before Disney World opened. He never walked through it. On the day it opened, a reporter said to Roy Disney, Walt’s brother, “This must be a bittersweet day for you. It’s really sad that Walt never got to see Disney World. Roy responded, “If Walt didn’t see it, we wouldn’t be standing in it.” (Instagram, jackdelosa, October 24, 2024)

Like a Christ follower.

Christians walk by faith, doing what we believe God wants us to do and operating in His strength, not our own. All the while, life remains hard and confusing. We do not see the results of our efforts most of the time. Oh sure, we see some occasional good results, but occasional is the operative word. After most days, we aren’t sure how things will turn out in the long-run.

Like Walt Disney.

Walt passed away with a set of detailed and grand plans, but had no idea how his plans would pan out, or even if they would at all. We can most certainly assume that he could not have imagined what Disney eventually turned into!

Like us.

Just like Walt didn’t know, neither do we. Unlike Walt, our God will be faithfully to invest our faithful efforts for His glory: However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— (1 Corinthians 2:9)

We will each have our “spin-around moment” when God will reveal what He did with our lives. This moment does not occur when we die. This moment occurs at the end of history when the curtain closes on time and heaven comes down to rest on a renewed earth for ever and ever. (Revelation 21:1-7)

The compound interest of family lines.

This week my daughter told me about episode 90 of With the Perrys that aired a few weeks ago on November 4 HERE.  The podcast summary begins with this: The “unimpressive” life you live today is really important. Even the mundane matters. God is using it and will bless you and future generations through your faithfulness. 

Just like our 401-K plans need ten years before they start to explode in value because of compound interest, God will be multiplying the investments we made by faith on earth between when we die and when earth’s history ends. Ray and Jani Ortlund share the calculations of how many people will be directly influenced by the two of them as a couple (between 42:27 and 43:30).

Generation 1: 2 people (Ray and Jani)

Generation 2: Each of their four children married and became 8 people.

Generation 3: Each of their married children have birthed 15 grandchildren so far, who will each probably marry, making this generation a projected 30 people.

Generation 10: Doing the math, Generation 10 could conceivably become 55,000 people.

Compound Interest in action!

What isn’t mentioned in this podcast is a wider truth. Ray and Jani are already part of the compound interest that has occurred prior to them in their family lines since the beginning of time. The two of them are already part of a calculation that exceeds what we could count (more than stars in the sky or sands in the sea). Millions? Billions? Only God knows. They are just doing their part by faith in this lifetime

I was raised in the faith hearing 2 Timothy 2:2 regularly: And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Multiplication happens in the body of Christ, too.

Unlike Walt Disney

Though we can be inspired by the story about Walt Disney, the truth is that what God is doing through the family lines of Christ followers will far exceed what God allowed to grow from Walt’s dreams into what are currently considered the best theme parks in the world.

Your dreams will come true.

The long-held motto of Disney World — Where Dreams Come True — was retired in 2020. God hasn’t retired the slogan for His children — for us. Have your moment to dream about what God is doing with your life. Click HERE to look at the photos. Your spin-around moment is going to be far more grand than this, and it won’t be pretend or created characters.

The results will be real people.

Picture Explanation: Expect fireworks in your spin-around moment.

Speaking of living a short life in a way that multiplies: If you want to join the next online One Gritty Blink Bible study, click on the Oaks Ministries link in the copyright line. Check out the study in the One Gritty Blink tab, then send me an email in the Contact tab so I can place you on a list to be contacted for a future study! Let’s not just focus on things in this short life, but also what counts for eternity.

Note: No part of my posts are derived from A.I. Thoughts and writing stem from my mind and heart as I process life week-by-week and continue to grow in my understanding of God and how to apply His wisdom to the world around me.

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