Winter 1993

VISION
Wade E Taylor

A mountain tree if it would see
The far horizons and the stars,
May never know a sheltered place
Nor grow symmetrical in grace.
Such trees must battle doggedly
the blasts, and bear the scars.
-Loyal Marion Thompson

The Lord is seeking those who are willing to come apart and ascend the mountain of vision with Him.

"But know that the Lord hath set apart him
that is Godly for Himself" Psalm 4:3.

To these He is saying, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter" Rev 4:1. There is yet much that has been hidden, which the Lord desires to reveal to the spiritually hungry who will pay the price and respond to His call.

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints," Eph 1:18.

Coming up into this realm of "unblurred spiritual vision" requires a separation from the seemingly good in order to be brought to the best. Therefore, many weights (acceptable things not born of the spirit) must be laid aside by those who would come higher, that they may climb unhindered.

"Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away ... look
from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir
and Hermon" S.S.2:10 and 4:8.

For those responding to this call into a higher realm of spiritual vision and insight, there is a priceless reward.

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus" Phil 3:14.

"Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of
the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given" Matt 13:11b.

This poem expresses in the imagery of a mountain tree, the price and the reward for persevering in our climb into this realm of Kingdom identification with our Lord.

"A mountain tree if it would see."

A mountain tree speaks of elevation. It is a lone tree, jutting out from the crest of a very rugged, wind swept mountain, far above the peaceful forest that spreads out beneath. But there is a reward for its singular loneliness and its struggle to survive. It can see,

"The far horizons and the stars."

Here, this lonely, battered tree sees the far horizons along with the expanse of the Heavenlies in all their glory, for this mountain tree abides in a clear and pure atmosphere.

But there is a price: it has been set apart from all others. As a result, it

"May never know a sheltered place, nor grow
symmetrical in grace."

In the forest beneath, the trees are sheltered and protected by all the other trees surrounding them. Because of this protection, these trees are symmetrical, fully formed and beautiful in appearance. However, they cannot see "the far horizons and the stars." Their vision is limited to those things that immediately surround them.

"Such trees must battle doggedly the blasts,
and bear the scars."

Because of its exposure high on the mountain, this tree is both scarred and gnarled by the storms it faces. It must continually withstand its contrary environment - all the opposing buffeting forces - as it struggles to maintain its place of vision.

The determination, obedience, and faithfulness, in abiding in this place of pure atmosphere and vision is rewarded; for it sees with clarity not only those things close at hand, but also the "far horizons and the stars" in a perspective of which others merely dream.

Although Jesus had twelve disciples, only three of them, Peter, James, and John, were taken by Him up into a high mountain apart where He was transfigured before them (Matt 17:1-2). These three saw His visible Glory while Moses and Elijah talked with Him. They received an understanding which could never have been imparted to them in any other way.

So also, those called up into the mount in our day are able to view the stirrings and movings of God pertaining to His body, and to the world, with a clarity and perspective that is not available to those who rest in the safety and comfort below.

Few are willing to ascend the mountain with Him and then abide there, for vision always has a price. John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" John 3:30. In other words, "The way up is down." This paradox applies to the mountain top.

Abraham was called alone, out from his country and kindred into a land that he knew not. There, he became the father of faith. Joseph was sold alone, into a strange country, and suffered alone in a dark prison. There, in a time of dire need, he became the head of his nation and saved his people. Moses fled into the wilderness alone where he met the Lord at a burning bush. From there, he led his nation forth from bondage.

Jesus went up into a mountain alone to pray and to call unto Him whom Hewould.

"And He goeth up into a mountain, and called unto
Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And
He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him,
and that He might send them forth to preach, and
to have power to heal sickness, and to cast out
devils" Mark 3:13-15.

Those who ascended the mountain to meet Him became the foundation and the pattern for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Many Christians rest in the safety of the sheltered place, satisfied with the security and the surrounding protection it provides. These are beautiful to the eye, and are "symmetrical in grace." But something is missing; they are not in the mount of vision.

Some who cannot remain satisfied in the place of sheltered comfort and passive acceptability, intensely hunger for more. These are responding to His call to "RISE UP AND COME AWAY" and are pressing ever upward toward this mountain realm of higher vision and revelation.

They understand that truth and vision are always costly. Each pioneer paid a price for the vision they received; and few of these were understood or accepted in their own day.

Today, many have caught this vision of the far horizons and have begun to see new realms that are waiting to be entered. Never again will they be able to rest in the safety and security of past experiences or visitations.

The mountain is before us. We have marched around it long enough. Let us linger no longer. May we join with the saints of old, and begin the ascent upward toward this realm of clear vision.

One thing is certain - He knows the way, and will lead us there.