Vision
“We have a vision for this nation, we share a dream for this land” etc. A well known christian song of the nineties, singing about a vision which we have for the land, for our nation. But what is a vision? According to Google dictionary: “vision – the faculty or state of being able to see, or the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom”. Here we can see 2 explanations: one is the literal seeing with the eyes, while the other is seeing into the future.
While visual perception refers to the ability to interpret and make sense of visual information from the environment through the process of sight. This complex process involves several steps, beginning with the detection of light by the eyes and ending with the interpretation of visual stimuli by the brain (Interaction design foundation).
So can we knit these 2 concepts together, the visual which begins with the detection of light and the plan, vision for the land, your workplace etc. Where is this light coming from? The Bible says in James 1:17 (HCSB), “Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning”. The New Testament also talks about Jesus being the light in John 1:4, “Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men”. And in verse 9, “The true light, who gives light to everyone”. Therefore we can say: The true source of light is God.
To where is this light leading? Let’s explore this further. If God is the source of light how does he convey this to humanity apart from seeing with our eyes. In Numbers 12:6 God spoke to Moses, Aaron and Miriam but summoned Aaron and Miriam and said, “Listen to what I say: If there is a prophet among you from the Lord, I will make myself known to Him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream”. Therefore, a vision during the day or a dream at night (not all dreams of course can be accredited to God, some can be the result from the pizza the night before), is an encounter with God where He imparts special revelation. How do we know these visions or dreams are from God? Joel 2:28 the promise of the Holy Spirit, “After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions”. This was/is fulfilled at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came on the people there. 2 Peter 1:20-21, “First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”. But be careful: Jeremiah 23:16 Warns against false prophets “whose words make the people worthless”. Therefore discernment and understanding is needed.
Throughout the Bible we read examples of interpretations, of understanding, think of Peter’s vision in Acts 10, starting with Cornelius’ vision, when he saw in a vision an angel of God, who came to him and gave direction to send men to Joppa to call for Peter. While Peter had a vision of his own, he saw a sheet with unclean animals. A voice said to kill and eat. Peter refused 3 times. While Peter was thinking about the vision, the 3 men arrived at his house, after an overnight stay they all left to return to Cornelius. Cornelius in return explained his vision to Peter. Vs 33 b “So we are all present before God, to hear everything you (Peter) have been commanded by the Lord”, then Peter explains the vision. God worked in all these cases through visions to make known his purposes.
There are many more examples but you can ask yourself the question: Why does God reveal or speak through visions and dreams becoming prophecies (declarations)? “Without revelation people will run wild, but one who listens to instruction will be happy” (Proverbs 29:18). Jesus is talking, “I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what the master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father” (John 15:15). “What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Some of the visions/prophecies mentioned above have come into being, while others are still to be fulfilled. Some spent over a short period while others centuries. Think of Ezekiel 37 ‘valley of the dry bones’, Ezekiel had to speak to the bones, to the breath and it stood as a vast army. This will happen in probably not such a distant time. Daniel 8 etc. All these came as visions from God, pointing also to the second coming of Christ. In Habakkuk 2, Habakkuk was instructed by the Lord to write down the vision, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time, it testify about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late”. Therefore have your vision focussed on God, who is light, and not on the world. Stay single focussed, don’t let your vision be tainted. The vision is to provide the path for hope. Hope for the world, hope for the future. In Titus 1:2 Paul gives credentials to God, who cannot lie, the promise of eternal life before time began. Again in Hebrew 6:12-19 God who made the promise to Abraham swore by himself because there is no one greater. God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. No hope – no vision. No vision – no hope!
