Mentoring Manna:  How is your vision?

© 2003 Pastor Keith Hassell

MM00028

Proverbs 29:18  “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  How is your vision?  David Yonggi Cho, pastor of the largest church in the world in Seoul, Korea, said about vision:  “Show me your vision, and I will show you your future!”  What a powerful statement!  There is no doubt that natural vision is important.  Without natural vision, opportunity may surround us, but we have no ability to perceive or, therefore, to pursue it.  We will not pursue what we cannot see.  There is another type of vision---spiritual vision.  If we have no spiritual vision in our hearts, we will live life without ever knowing our purpose in life.  We all need to walk with a sense of purpose or destiny.  We all need spiritual vision.  Without it we will live life stumbling in darkness leading to frustration, disappointment and, ultimately, the reality of a wasted life.  The condition of our vision is also important.  Perfect vision is 20/20.  With 20/20 vision we are able to see far and near with equal focus.  Farsightedness is a vision problem in which we see things at a distance most clearly.  Nearsightedness is a vision problem in which we see things close up most clearly.  Either way, our vision is hindered.  When it comes to spiritual vision, it is also important to have “20/20” vision.  Unfortunately many are spiritually “farsighted.”  They are “dreamers” who always talk about what God is going to do “one day.”  They are full of enthusiasm but nothing ever materializes.  Why?  Their vision is unbalanced.  They lack the ability to see importance in the daily steps of obedience required to see vision become a reality.  On the other hand, many are spiritual “nearsighted.”  They have no long-range vision.  They are blinded to the bigger picture.  Their focus is on the daily problems and challenges they face in a journey that has no clear destination. Because they have no long-range vision, they perceive every temporary problem as the final destination.  They cannot see the challenges as part of God’s character building process. Rather than allow God to form their character, they always look for another “quick fix” to solve the problem.  However, it never does.  The problems persist until they catch a glorious glimpse of the destination God has planned for them and then commit to God’s process to get them there.  Healthy spiritual vision is 20/20.  It sees the final destination, but has the vision to take steps each day toward that vision.  Healthy vision both rests and works.  It “rests” in the sense that God has determined the destination, has mapped out the journey, and is leading the way.  It “works” in the sense that it is obedient to take every step to follow the Lord.  So, how is your vision?

Application:  Are you walking with vision from the Lord?  Spiritual vision is a revelation of the mind and purpose of God.  Without it, we wander through life with little motivation to resist the natural “drift” toward sin and complacency.  Don’t be deceived.  If we receive vision from God, Satan is sure to give us a substitute.  He will give us a carnal “dream” that blinds us to and robs us of God’s plan for our lives.  Many have lived and died without ever knowing why they were created. What a waste of a life!  Without a vision from God, we either focus on negative experiences or on temporal fulfillment rather than on having faith in the promises of God.  Like a Polaroid snapshot, what we focus on will “develop.”  Don’t settle for long-range vision that has no short-range obedience.  Don’t settle for short-range vision that is busyness with no eternal purpose.  Ask God to give you a healthy vision for your life.

Prayer:  “Heavenly Father, give me 20/20 vision.  Give Me Your long-range vision for my life and the short-range vision to take the steps I need to take each day.  Help me to be at rest in Your final destiny for my life and to have a steadfastness to follow You each step of the way.  I thank You for this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

Grace Fellowship     P.O. Box 260       Rusk, Texas 75785       (903) 683-6550

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