Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no VISION, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
It was roughly 350 years ago when a ship filled with travelers landed on the northeastern coast of our country. During the first year, they established a town site. The following year, they elected a local government. The next year, the local government began working on some plans to build a road about five miles westward going into the wilderness.
It was in the fourth year that the people tried to impeach their local government, due to the fact that they thought it was a waste of funds to build a road into the wilderness. “What would the purpose of that be?” they thought. It seemed that somehow they lost their VISION, or their “pioneer spirit” if you will.
Remember, they travelled upwards of three thousand miles across the vast ocean, being challenged with many dangerous hardships, yet they forgot their VISION. You see, it was their VISION that gave them the wherewithal to plan and fulfill their incredible journey in the first place. It was their VISION that gave them the courage to face the unknown that traveling across the ocean would undoubtedly bring.
Now, it seemed that five miles into the wilderness was such a foreign, ridiculous thought. The government had the VISION to build and expand into this great country. The people were more content to just be as they were, limited by the invisible walls of their small town.
Perhaps we can draw some applications from this story in our own lives. When we first got saved, we had an amazing zeal for the Lord. We knew what we wanted, and all we wanted was God. Sin had taken such a toll on us that we were ready to live the committed Christian life. Now that our priorities were centered on Christ, things would be different. We vowed that if God gave us children, they would be wholly dedicated to Him and His cause. We vowed to have a Christ-centered marriage, understanding that the unity of a husband and wife, when grounded in Christ, is an amazing tool for God Almighty.
Family, friends, and others were quick to judge our new desires, our new VISION for the Lord; but that didn’t sway us…we were still pressing on! However, time has passed now. Proverbs 26:20 tells us, “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:” Over time, we forgot to tend to our “fire” for God. We stopped fueling the flame. Now, just like that, we are cold. It seems that any challenge we hear from the Word of God is just too inconvenient. It could be the challenge to have a better marriage, or be more committed as a Christian, or become a better soul winner.
We are just too comfortable, too settled in our new life. “VISION is not necessary,” we say to ourselves. I’d like to remind us today that VISION is necessary. We are where we are today as a result of VISION or a lack thereof. Many of us have covered so much ground for the Lord as a result of VISION, but perhaps we have gotten complacent? Perhaps we grown weary of fighting our flesh, our children, our spouse, our peers, and we just want to give in. The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Let us be reminded that giving in didn’t build this great country. Giving in didn’t get Jesus to the cross of Calvary, thus providing us hope for Heaven. Giving in didn’t build our amazing church, and giving in won’t get us anywhere! Please, remember where VISION has brought you, and acknowledge where the lack of VISION has landed you. By God’s grace, may we restore the future of our homes, our ministries, and our purpose by restoring our VISION for the Lord!
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no VISION, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
.jpg)
