Great nations come and go, don’t they? Extraordinary empires in history have ticked away, but the USA still ticks. And, we still enjoy special freedoms, freedoms purchased at a great price.
It is that way with the church, too. Our freedom in spirit and truth has not come cheap. And just like with our nation, in the church we are indebted to people with great vision.
There is a saying in the Bible, that goes like this: where there is no vision the people perish (Proverbs 29:18 [KJV]).
Typically, this maxim is understood as having to do with visionary leaders, great people who lay out their plan for where they where they want to lead.
The church, like our country, needs to know where we’re headed. We need direction, we need revelation. In fact, most bibles translate that verse in proverbs this way: where there is no revelation the people perish.
We have been blessed, we already know where all of God’s people are headed: we’re on our way to be with Christ, to enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb. And In the meantime, here, our assignment is to live for the praise of his Glory. That is what the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 1:3-14. That is the church’s driving vision, if we accept the word of God.
And, to quote Paul again, we want to “become mature attaining to the measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). Is this an exciting vision? Hope so. It is God’s vision for us.
Is it possible? Is the vision measurable?
God promises in Ezekiel 36:27: “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
So is God’s vision for us possible? With God, he can make that happen, and he is making it happen. But only with God’s revelation can we stay on track. Only with his revelation can we become truly one nation under God, and one church under God. And, you, personally, one person under God.
Now, that’s something to Celebrate!
