Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish…
Two notable ‘visionaries’ of our time passed away this past week: Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple and Al Davis, the owner of the National Football League’s Oakland Raiders (Jerry Jones before Jerry Jones was Jerry JonesJ ) Vision is absolutely necessary for the advancement of civilization. Nothing has ever been built without it. Gift from God? Most definitely. One of the many traits that we share with the Father. And because He gives His gifts without repentance and He is not a respecter of persons, this gift of vision is sometimes made manifest in the worst ways imaginable. Nevertheless, vision: the ability to see or conceptualize a finished, completed task, project, entity, etc., is the engine that drives us forward, collectively and individually. Collectively, we build neighborhoods, cities, nations, governments. We fuel growth, entrepreneurship, education, renaissance on every level. Individually, we ‘envision’ our families, our career paths, our dreams, hobbies and adventures. Vision: the engine of civilization. A thought in closing: In this current time of economic and political upheaval many from various sides of the spectrum will refer to the other side’s positions as a zero sum game. Vision, true vision sees past the concept of zero sum game to the continual advancement of civilization. Beloved, Genesis 1:2 describes a place an earth that was chaotic and void, but God saw the possible and spoke it into existence. God said… and since God set creation in motion with the Word, it has never ceased to be or to continue being. Vision is like that. It set in motion the creative inspiration that literally raises up nations out of nothingness. Establishes order from total disorder.
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
I purposely shifted the context of the verse above in the first paragraph, so as to illustrate the power of vision, one of God’s many gifts to mankind. But there is something else required for the continued well being of mankind. We need revelation, open vision from God about God. About His heart, His love, His plan for us. God’s vision for us sustains us in difficult times. His revealed Word gives us Hope. Hope brings us boldly into His Presence, where His Love is shed abroad into our hearts by His Holy Spirit. When the heavens are open and Revelation is present, we see Him, through the eyes of Faith, and we are healed, nourished, fulfilled, blessed. Lord, open our eyes so that your Glory may be revealed in us. When we, the Church, walked under the unction of His reveled Word, we bless, we heal, we offer life to a world that He so cherishes that He gave us His Son, Jesus; the First and the Last, The very Image of the Father, God’s Heart made manifest for the redemption of all of mankind.
Where there is no open heaven, people lose their consciousness of the things of God. They become consumed with the cares and concerns of the world, they are overtaken by circumstances beyond their control and pretty soon, they are mired in hopelessness. The reverent fear of the Lord is a good thing. If it causes restraint, if it causes humility, if it causes restraint… Halleluiah! If we live a life fully conscious of God’s Presence, then we’ve received the greatest blessing. We’ve received the ability to behold His majesty, to peer in awe at His Glory, to know Him in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering. By godly restraint, we walk in His light and Heaven calls us Blessed.
.wb
Isaiah 6:1
[ Isaiah’s Commission ] In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment