Winter 2002
Spiritual Vision
Tara Wentworth

Each of us should have a vision, or direction and purpose for our lives.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Prov 29:18 a.

Another translation says, “Where there is no prophetic revelation, the people are unrestrained.”

The Apostle Paul also moved toward a set purpose.

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

Each of us have a destiny and purpose from God for our lives, which was established before we were born.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul
knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in
the lowest parts of the earth.”

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they were written, the days
fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of
them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me,
O God! How great is the sum of them.” Psalm 139:14-16.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10.

Each of must realize that we were created for a purpose, or, our lives will become meaningless. Without goals, we will not be able to submit to the circumstances that the Lord allows to come our way, in order to mold and make us into vessels that He can use. We will cast off the restraints of godly living and discipline, if we are not focused on what is ahead.

A runner who is preparing himself for the race, has a vision or goal. He is willing to run those extra laps, deny himself that Big Mac and fries, because he knows, if he does, he can win the race. His eye is on the finish line and he will sacrifice legitimate desires in order to be in a position to run and win.

Many Christians today are walking out their lives without having received a vision from the Lord. Jer.29:11-13 says,

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future
and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and
pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and
find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.”

Two examples in Scripture give us a graphic example of the difference between someone with a vision for their life, and someone who chooses to do as he pleases, because he did not allow the “call” upon his life to keep him from careless living.

Joseph received a dream, or a vision from God when he was a very young man. He found himself in difficult circumstances much of his life. He was sold by his own brothers into slavery, falsely accused and thrown into prison. He could have easily given up his dream.

But Joseph continued to conduct himself as though he were already in the place of the rulership that had been promised to him. In time, his faithfulness and integrity paid off, and he was established in the place he had seen in his dreams, many years earlier.

Samson, on the other hand, had awesome prophecies that were given over him by an angel, while he was still in his mother's womb, but he had no vision. He had a powerful anointing on his life, and his gifts were many. But he was ruled by his natural desires, and he forfeited the high calling on his life.

We can miss the Lord's best for us, by careless living. Our having a vision will bring the needed boundaries into our lives, but a lack of vision will dull our senses, and put us into situations in which we should not be involved.

By our lack of vision, we can wrongly affect many other lives, especially those who would have been changed as a result of our life. If Joseph had given up in prison, millions of lives would have been affected because he would not have been in the place of giving Pharaoh advice about storing up for the seven years of famine.

If Samson had had clear vision, he could have totally delivered the children of Israel from the bondage they were under. Without a vision, we will not be able to accomplish all that God has planned for us.

May each of us discover the “vision” that the Lord has for us, and then be spiritually sensitive and obedient as the Lord causes it to be personalized in our life experience.