“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.”

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he that keeps the law.”

(Proverbs 29:18)

One of the greatest assets to man is that of vision. It is the ability to see something that does not yet exist, and the desire to pursue the steps to bring it into manifestation. Intrinsically, man throughout the ages has used this capacity to create his world, the product being complete with both good and bad results. Couple this innate capacity with the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit which each born-again believer possesses, and the potential is unlimited.

We are basically the product of what we have heard, seen, and believed about ourselves. Many of us have been told certain things about ourselves, (whether true or untrue), and because we have placed a certain element of faith in them, we have now become them. Unknowingly, the words spoken over us created a vision that ultimately became reality. Many self-defeating behaviors are rooted in a vison of ourselves that grew out of either a past failure or negative communication that we have never been able to move beyond. For things to change these patterns need to be broken. It’s not so much “what we are” that holds us back, but “what we think we are not.” Following this logic will lead us to conclude that we really can change for the better, to become whatever we can see ourselves becoming. We must first see it before we can move towards it. Our challenge is whether what we envision concerning ourselves is birthed out of our own human heart, or something that has been imparted to us as revelation from God.

The above mentioned scripture speaks of two types of people: those who have no vision (and as a result cast off restraint and ultimately perish), and a happy and blessed person, who through the law (or, Word of God) sees himself through the eyes of God.

The Word of God is the framework that should shape our vision to lead us into the purposes of God. Upon entering the kingdom of God, we now embark on the task of renewing our mind. Here, we exchange selfish, carnal, humanistic thinking for God’s reasoning (the “logos,” or logic of God). Through this process, we begin to envision ourselves through His eyes. When we see ourselves and each other from His perspective, and incorporate what we see by faith, we are then living in the possibility realm of God. We become visionary as a result of the Word working in us.

Out of every generation there arises those who can see beyond the status quo and into the realm of possibilities that have yet to be tapped. Thank God for those seers and dreamers who refuse to live restricted by the confines of the present. They are the ones who set the pace and challenge us to rise to a higher level of living. They are the spokespersons who call God’s people up into His high purposes. They are the leaders, who in the face of fear, press through the challenges that others would be reluctant to address.

Revelation 4:1 is a word to the church. The voice that spoke to John said, “Come up here, and I will show you things to come.” God wanted to reveal some things and let John see from a heavenly perspective so that he could record the events for the future. The same voice is calling us up today, so that we can see from His vantage point and begin to respond accordingly. There is vision that God wants to release from His presence that will set His plans into motion. There are things that He wants you to see concerning the course of your future. Hope for the present is actually born out of the vision of a better tomorrow. The awesome thing about this fact is that we get to be a part of it! God wants to include you in the carrying out of His plans in the earth.

Individually, without revelation, we will live unrestrained lives. If we have no vision of the future, we will get distracted and bogged down in the present. Our course for the future is determined by present vision. It is the very thing that keeps us moving on track. Collectively, as the church, without vision we will get stuck in traditional, religious ritual that keeps us going through the motions without ever really accomplishing anything for eternity. What we see will ultimately determine what we do.

Jesus said in John 4:35, “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields…,” indicating a time of refocusing. What people were saying at the time, “…it is still four months until the harvest…” was determined by what they saw. There would be no change in what they said and ultimately did, until they could see things differently. Paraphrasing the words of Jesus, “If you’ll change your perspective (vision), you will see that the harvest is ready now.”

Do you need to refocus? Maybe it is time for you to take your eyes off of your problems or whatever else has been holding you back. Perhaps a view from a higher perspective is what will lift you up and out from where you presently are, and point you to where He wants you to go. Don’t let the things that are close to you crowd in and obscure your vision of the bigger picture. God has placed things in your heart for a reason. Let Him lead you into your destiny by directing your sight.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)

Check out some other great posts from Grace Community Fellowship:

Spiritual Warfare: The Field Manual

Podcast: The Power of Submission

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