WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish…" - I believe that the biggest reason that many begin serving the Lord; then they will revert to their old lifestyle is that their vision for the wonderful promises in God’s Word has faded. Satan blinds men to reality of eternity. There is a real Heaven to gain and a real Hell to shun. Why are so many choosing the broad way to Hell’s flames?
Acts 26:19, "Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:"
As Paul stood before King Agrippa, expounding to that heathen king the wonderful truths of the gospel, Paul stood there as a man convinced, a man with a powerful vision, a man with a strong conviction, a man who had counted the cost of his salvation, both from the view of Jesus’ death on the cross, and in Paul’s own suffering for the cause of Christ after his conversion on the road to Damascus.
Paul was convinced by his “heavenly vision” that everything that he had to suffer was worth it, and 10,000 times over, to win the prize of eternal life in the glories of Heaven. Nothing could persuade him to turn away from the call of God upon his life. No price was too high, no worldly pleasures too alluring, and nothing of this life that had the power to draw Paul away from his mission.
Let me point out to you the conviction of Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
While using the ancient Olympian Games as an illustration, Paul alludes to the fact not everyone who starts out in that race will win the prize. In an earthly race, only those who finish first are the champions while everyone else is a loser.
You rarely hear of offers to make the big money to those who finish second or third, must less those who finish last. Only the champion, only the one who was first across, wins the Gold Medal and gets the rewards that he so desires. While you may see smiles and outward signs of joy on the faces of the Silver and Bronze Medalists, down deep inside they are thinking – I lost, I lost!
Thank God the race for eternal life is not just to those who finish first. This race is one that only requires that we never quit and that we eventually cross the Finish Line!
But what is it that makes those Olympic athletes spend their entire lives preparing for maybe just one shot at the Gold? Year after year, day in and day out, in all types of weather, whether they are well or ill, no matter what – they are punishing their bodies and pushing their physical ability to the outer limits – all that pain and suffering for what? Is it just that little Gold Medal hanging on a ribbon? NO! That’s not all there is! Is it the prestige, the recognition, or the big advertising contracts? Perhaps that is a small part of the driving force behind their efforts, but I don’t think that is the real reason!
So what is the real reason? I believe that they push themselves for one main reason – to show the world that they are the best at what they do, better than anyone in the entire world. It’s the satisfaction of knowing that they accomplished their lifelong dream.
Looking at the power of their dream we can begin to get just a small glimpse of what should be the driving force behind, not just Paul, but every born again Child of God!
What is it that drives you to serve Jesus? What makes you get out of bed on Sunday morning or get dressed on a Wednesday evening and make the effort to get to the House of God? What is the reason that you come week after week to hear the same Word of God preached time and again that you have probably heard a thousand times before?
There has to be a reason or you would not come! You have to have some kind of vision, some kind of goal, some kind of prize in mind, or you just wouldn’t put forth the effort.
Just like the Olympic athlete, there is a driving force that pushes you onward and that makes the price worth paying!
That’s the core of why so many backslide, leave the church and go out into a life of sin! They simply don’t believe that the prize is worth the effort!
How much is Heaven worth to you? How bad do you want to go there? How much do you really want to see Jesus? How much do you desire to have a glorified body, a mansion on a golden avenue, and to live forever in a perfect place of perfect peace and joy? On the other hand, how bad do you not want to burn forever in a lake of fire and brimstone? How much do you want to avoid having to spend eternity with demons, devils, murderers, rapists, homosexuals, and every man and woman who has rejected Jesus? Won’t that be a “wonderful” place to be – FOREVER!
Paul’s goal’s were simple but powerful:
Philippians 3:10-14, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death … I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Do you know Jesus? How well do you know him? Do you just drop by for a visit, like checking in at a hotel to visit for a few days, or do you hang out with him and build a strong relationship with him?
Do you really want eternal life? If you do then you must be prepared to suffer for Jesus and to crucify the desires of this flesh that you can become conformable and die unto Christ. Then you must “PRESS” – push on, fight for, struggle and overcome to reach that mark of holiness and sanctification, and trust in the high calling of God that called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
I’ve seen many who lost their “heavenly vision” like Paul had! You can find them in every church and in nearly every neighborhood. The zeal that they once had is gone now. If they serve the Lord at all, it is only in half-hearted service.
The “heavenly vision” of the Throne of God, with Jesus at the Father’s right hand is suddenly overpowered by the “earthly vision” of a bigger paycheck or a better job, or a higher level of education, or anything else that Satan throws in front of us.
The “heavenly vision” of the streets of gold and a mansion built just for you is clouded and lost in the vision of earthly houses made of wood, brick and stone.
The “heavenly vision” of eternal life is lost in the vision of the pleasures of this present life.
The “heavenly vision” of shunning Hell’s flames is lost on the glitz and glamour that Satan casts before us to blind our eyes.
The “heavenly vision” of an eternity in Heaven to enjoy being with friends and family in a perfect place forever is lost on the vision of earthly parties and sins of the flesh.
What will it cost for you to lose your vision? At what place is the prize of the “high calling in God through Jesus Christ” not going to be worth the price you have to pay to obtain that prize? What corruptible, immoral, sinful pittance will you sell out for?
Is eternal life worth facing the troubles you will see? Is going to Heaven worth facing a little ridicule? Is eternal life worth getting through our petty little arguments? Is going to Heaven to be with Jesus worth getting up and going to church? Is God’s forgiveness to you for your sin worth the effort you must give to forgive others?
It’s time we get a new vision of Heaven and a new dream of going there in our hearts. When was the last time you stopped and thought about what that day will be like when we get there?
Get a renewed vision of God’s promises to you and then the price you will have to pay and the obstacles you will have to overcome will seem so insignificant. Heaven will surely be worth it all so don’t give up! Don’t let Satan win! RENEW YOUR VISION!
