Vision

Proverbs 29:18

18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

In the mid twentieth century, in Bangkok, Thailand, the government wanted to build a large highway through a village. Yet in thepath of the planned road was a buddhist monastery with a little chapel, so they had to relocate the monastery, including a heavy, eleven foot clay statue of Buddha, to another place. Using a crane, the government workers moved the monastery in sections. When the workers transported the statue of Budda to the new location and began to lower it into place, however, the clay on the statue started to crumble and fall off. The people were afraid because this was a precious religious symbol to them, and they didn't want it to be destroyed. Yet the more the workers tried to place the statue, the more it fell apart until, eventually, all the clay was falling off. Suddenly, the workers stared in amazement because, as the clay fell away, something unexpected was revealed; The statue was pure gold underneath. Before the statue was moved, people thought it was worth about fifty thousand dollars. Today, that golden Buddha is worth millions and, because of the story behind it, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year.

This story illustrates that what we can see is not necessarily what really is. I believe that many of us are living as clay vessels when, in reality, we are pure gold inside. Our lives do not reflect who we truly are or what we can be.

A lack of purpose and unfulfilled potential in our world. Yet just as the gold statue was hidden inside the clay one, the "gold" inside each of us is waiting to be revealed. This gold is the dreams we have- or once had- for our lives that are not yet reality, the gifts and talents that we have not yet developed, the purpose for our lives that is not yet fulfilled, the "something" we've always wanted to be or do but for some reason have not been able to accomplish.

You have a personal purpose, for every human being is born with one. God created each person with a unique vision. He has tremendous plans for you that no one else can accomplish. The tragic thing is that many people live their whole lives without ever recognizing their visions.

How do you remove the clay and uncover the gold within you? Your dreams, talents. and desires can be refined in a process of discovering and fulfilling your life's vision so that the pure gold of your unique and personal gifts to this world can shine forth.

The destiny of an acorn is a tree. By faith, you can see the tree within the seed. You have a vision of it in your mind's eye because you know the potential in the seed. The same thing is true of you and me.God has given us birth for a purpose, and as far as God is concerned, that purpose is already finished because He has placed within us the potential for fulfilling it. We can see that purpose through faith.

For true visionary's, the imaginary world of their visions is more real to them than the concrete reality around them. In fact, a visionary's vision is his reality.
When you have no vision you will simply relive the past with it's disappointments and failures. Therefore, vision is the key to your future.

One of the awesome things about Shekinah Fellowship during Brant Baker's watch was you left the meetings with vision. Somehow Brant was able to inspire others to draw close to Jesus and to receive more from Him then what they came to the meeting with.

John 10:10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Satan seeks to rob us of our vision. God seeks to install a vision in us.
Don't let Satan rob you of your vision!

Revelation 2:25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Hebrews 10:23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Living life aimlessly is not God's best. To hold true to a vision is. The vision energizes us in the Holy Spirit. The vision causes the clay to drop off and the gold to be revealed in all of it's beauty. To exercise faith and to lay hold of the promise of God is life.

Most people fail because they give up their vision the first time they fall down. People stop too soon. they don't win because they give up when they fall down the first time or the next time or the next. A person of passion is is always eager to fulfill their vision. Passion is willing to pay the price.

When you capture your vision and stay with it, you will be rewarded. Defy the odds. If you become passionate about your vision, you can defy the odds and persevere to the fulfillment of your goals. whenever you are tempted to quit too soon or stay down when life knocks you over, remember the examples of Nehemiah and apostle Paul. Capture your vision and stay with it, and you will be rewarded with seeing that vision become reality, no matter what might try to come against it.