Only God’s vision has saving power!!
Pro 29:18 says, Where there is no vision, the people perish;
This verse in the bible which is such a wonderful verse if understood properly, is sometimes interpreted in such a way that it produces a sense of fear of failure in many Christians because they find themselves without a vision and think if they do not have a vision they will fail. I think you will agree with me when I say that I don’t think this verse was written to make us fearful when God Himself says so many times to us “Fear not”!
Confusion arises when we try to understand scripture based on our understanding or knowledge acquired by us from the worldly way of thinking. So when we say that someone has a vision we mean that that person has set a goal for his life ort he has thought on how his life should look like in the coming future. And to achieve that goal or to fulfil his vision he plans his time, moves step by step, disciplines himself, etc. And we have hundreds of example of people who have achieved or fulfilled their goal or vision. My question to you then is that if that person is an unbeliever, will he not perish just because he has had a vision and successfully achieved it? Does his vision save him from eternal death? You will agree that the answer to this question is negative. Then the 2nd question is this that if that person is a believer has his vision or we can say has his work for God saved him? Again you will agree that the answer to this question is also in the negative. It is only the finished work of Jesus Christ which saves us from perishing or eternal death.
Joh 3:16 says, “....That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
The vision that saves us is His vision to redeem us. Praise God that He has revealed the vision of our redemption by which man will not perish, in Jesus Christ, so that we may not perish and have eternal life by believing in Him. God’s vision for mankind is that none should perish and for that He revealed Himself in His Son Jesus and gave Him to save us. So, where and when people do not have redemptive revelation of God (VISION), they do not see (vision) God for who He is in Jesus Christ, and then they perish.
SO our saving vision is God Himself. And when we follow Him as co- labourers He fulfils His vision through us and many others do not perish. Because we have a VISION– that is a revelation knowledge of God, so as believer we start our spiritual journey with God, glorifying Him, beholding Him, loving Him, worshiping Him, knowing that His Grace is sufficient for us, and knowing that it is His grace that works in us.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
God puts His desire in our hearts and He does the work. That’s why Paul says in
1Co 15:10 ...yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
So our beloved brother and sister in Christ, let not this verse terrify you. Let not your man made vision lead you. But be led by God. And see His vision being fulfilled through you.
Bro. Jawahar Kr. Singh & Sis. Ghazala J. Singh
Grace Bible School Siliguri, WB, India