Leaving The Game

chase8479
Sep 8
4 min read

It’s been a while. My bad.

Part of that is because of how visions and dreams come, but also because our family has been experiencing a lot of change. At the beginning of this year (2025), we moved into a new house. That meant managing all the details of selling our former home while finalizing the new one. We also celebrated our oldest son’s graduation from high school. The summer was filled with family and church activities—weddings to officiate, moments of joy, and moments of grief as we lost a family member. My wife, as a doula, supported several families through labor and delivery. Then, at the end of the summer, we moved that high school graduate into a university dorm room as a college freshman. All of this happened against the backdrop of a world that increasingly feels like it’s falling apart.

This reminds me of when the disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age in Matthew 24. Among many things, He told them:

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 24:37–39, NLT)

This series isn’t about trying to convince you that Jesus’ second coming is eminent. It’s about bringing imagery and articulation to what it feels like for us to be at the end of this age. While that shouldn’t make us start panic buying toilet paper, denying that we are nearing the end of an age (as some might) doesn’t make it less true. At the very least, history will remember this time as a pivotal moment in the human story. And, just like in the days of Noah, people will carry on with as much normalcy as possible: buying and selling houses, celebrating graduations, marrying and burying, welcoming new life, and sending young adults into the world.

The end of every age doesn’t arrive all at once. It creeps in slowly, settling in the periphery until suddenly it becomes unavoidable. That’s why Christ told us what to watch for. Our role is to pay attention.

All the transitions in my family have made one particular vision stand out.

I actually had this vision while preaching during our summer series where we invite questions from the congregation. Last summer, one member asked about the war between Israel and Palestine and what it meant for us as followers of Christ. In answering, I spoke about Jesus’ words:

“You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.” (Matthew 24:6–7, NLT)

While preaching, the Holy Spirit whispered: Be aware of these things, but don’t be distracted by them. Pay attention, and stay close to the Father.

And then, in real-time, the Spirit gave me a vision.

In the vision, a family was leaving a stadium after a football game. The dad carried bags and a cooler. The mom carried a diaper bag and a baby. Their four-year-old son was told to hold onto dad’s shirt while they made their way to the car. In this vision, I was that four-year-old.

Like any crowded venue, leaving was overwhelming and chaotic. People wove through traffic, crowds pressed in, and trucks lined the parking lot with tailgaters calling out, “Hey little man, want the rest of this cotton candy?”

“Just keep walking,” mom said.

Dogs barked. Headlights flashed. Horns blared as impatient drivers jockeyed for the exit.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To the car,” dad answered.

“But I can’t see it.”

“You don’t need to,” dad said sharply. “I know where it is. Just hold onto my shirt.”

But I wanted to see. Holding onto his shirt blocked my view. So I let go. And as soon as I did, the crowd swallowed me up.

The Spirit made the meaning clear: we are moving from one age to another. The transition will be full of distractions—many voices calling for our allegiance. Some tempt with evil, but the greater temptation will be the desire for control. Like the first humans in Eden, we will reach for a “good” beyond what God has given.

But the Father knows the way. He knows where the car is. He knows the way into the next age. Our role is simple: stay close and hold on.

Don’t get lost in the crowd. Notice the wars and rumors of wars. Notice the famines, genocides, earthquakes, eruptions, fires, and droughts. Notice the growing number of species nearing extinction. Notice the billions of dollars poured into politics, media, and celebrity culture—designed to keep your attention and gain your allegiance. Notice it all, but just keep walking.

Most of all, notice the temptation to see beyond the Father. You’ll want to prepare, to predict, to control. But if we are doing this right, all we should see is His back as we hold on and follow. That, I believe, is by design. If we could see all that is coming, we might turn back in fear.

We will make it to the next age. We will step into the beauty of the coming spring—if we pay attention and stay close to the Father.