Live in the Vision

(Proverbs 29:18 KJV) Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 

This is one of my most favorite scriptures in the entire Bible because it talks about vision. Vision has always been very important to me because it is the fuel that has kept me excited, alive, and moving forward. I thank the Lord for gifting me with the ability to envision things before they actually happen. There were times in my life when I had nothing else except vision…and that is why I cherish it.

It is amazing how one can preach on a scripture such as this for years and yet seem to only have a surface understanding of it. Recently, while reading this scripture again, I began to realize that in the past I had only seen in it what I needed to see at the time…but there is so much more. Even though I could quote this scripture backwards and forwards, I had only extracted from it what was relevant to me at that age of my spiritual growth.

However, after further examination of this scripture it does seem to be making two contrasting statements. The first statement has to do with what it takes to make one perish. The second statement has to do with what it takes to make one happy.

I had not realized until now how devastating it is for one who is not motivated by vision. That being the case, then vision is much more than just a dream exercise…it represents health itself. Food and exercise may keep one’s body healthy, but it takes vision to keep one’s spirit healthy.

What seemed to be a contrast in this scripture may not be as much of a contrast as I first thought. The ‘b’ part of this scripture actually talks about happiness being the result of keeping the law. However, the law this scripture speaks of is not the moral law (because no man can perfectly keep that law), it is talking about the law of faith (the Gospel). Therefore, happiness is the result of valuing and esteeming the law of faith with meekness, which in turn can result in salvation. Salvation and eternal life should produce happiness and happiness should produce vision, health, and a long productive life.

I happen to be one of those people who actually live in the vision every waking moment. Even when I wake up at night to go to the bathroom…I use those few minutes to actually walk through things that I need to before they ever occur. By doing that …when the time comes for me to actually walk through those experiences I am already familiar with each of the steps.

Since I am blessed with the ability to immediately go back to sleep (after the bathroom trip) I do not waste my time by remaining awake or lose my rest time because of insomnia.

When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac…the servant found Rebekah. As they rode for days on the backs of camels returning home, the servant continued to tell Rebekah all about Isaac. By the time they actually arrived home she knew Isaac without even having seen him…because she had envisioned him.

Father,

Thank You for giving me one of the most precious gifts of all…the ability to envision. Lord, help those who have lost their way as a result of losing their vision. Restore to them what man or life has stolen from them…and that is the ability to envision...because, “Where there is no vision, the people perish...”

Amen