I’m sure that there will be a lot of preachers formulating their New Year's sermons around that play on words this coming weekend, (I will be). :)
I grew up in northern NH where the valley towns are surrounded by the gorgeous White Mountains. If you were ever able to climb to the top of Mt Washington, on a clear beautiful day you could see for 130 miles in any direction, the sight spectacular and breathtaking, albeit, those days of visibility are rare.
It is not wrong to dream. We all have dreams (goals, aspirations), growing up that for many, unfortunately, go unfulfilled. Why? Because the world has a tendency to smother the fire in us to pursuing and achieving the desires of our young hearts. The world puts in our way numerous obstacles that occupy our minds and our time so that we eventually start to simulate gerbils on a running wheel, moving, but in reality, going nowhere.
The thing that needs to fuel our spirits and our hearts to keep moving forward is VISION. Vision enables us to gain a long-range perspective in the midst of the short-term obstacles that surround us.
As a people of God, we long to accomplish what His plans and purposes are for our life. We can’t do that without vision – clearly-defined, carefully stated, God-given directions. The truth of God’s Word gives us those directions.
Proverbs 29:18 tells us,
“Where there is no vision, the people perish:
But he that keepth the law, happy is he.” KJV
The vision Solomon is talking about is a revelation from God’s messengers, i.e. prophets, apostles and Jesus Christ, His Son.
Eugene Peterson in his paraphrase of the Bible, The Message, captures the essence of the verse when he writes:
“If people can’t see what God is doing,
They stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what He reveals,
They are most blessed.”
In a nutshell, we have a choice. Do we believe and act upon the truths that God’s Word gives us or do we just simply refuse to believe the truth and abandon ourselves to the godless, sinful ways that we were born with?
There is a way forward, set your sights on the truth that has truely set you free.
As you refocus on the vision God has set before you and gather new energy to pursue it, remember the wisdom of Apostle Paul's words:
“Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
To please Him in all respects,
Bearing fruit in every good work and
Increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:10) NASB
May this coming year be a clear and joyous one for you. Happy New Year!
