August 14, 2019 –
The Bible shows the importance of vision. “Where there is no vision,” the writer of Proverbs wrote, “the people are unrestrained” (Proverbs 29:18).
To capture the importance of your vision, it helps to think of God’s heavenly identification and commendation of Jesus at His baptism and His transfiguration. At the baptism of Jesus, God spoke from the heavens: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). At the Transfiguration, God spoke to the disciples out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 17:5). On both occasions, God took great delight in singled out Jesus and His unique relationship with Him. First, there was a heavenly identification, “This is My beloved Son.” Second, there was a divine commendation, “in whom I am well pleased.”
When you catch the joy and excitement of hearing God say, Welcome, well done thy good and faithful servant enter My joy, you will do everything you can to make sure that you walk with God.
What Does It Take to Realize Your Vision?
Paul in his first letter to the believers at Corinth, uses the analogy of an athlete training for a race; “Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly.” (I Corinthians 9:24-26a NIV).
As Christians, we are running toward a future eternal reward. Think of how the Greek athlete exercised self-control in all things in preparing to win a small wreath of leaves. How much more important is that we persevere to the end of the race, we must set aside all else and stay focused on the eternal, imperishable prize that awaits us—God’s welcome and personal commendation.
Big goals are important, but a strong vision is essential.