What are you looking for?
What do you want to see?
What do you see?
What do you see with your “natural” vision?
What do you see with your “spiritual” vision?
 
Obviously, God had a distinct plan and purpose for Abraham. The scriptures record that the Lord called him to pursue that plan and purpose.
 
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing
Genesis 12:1-2
 
Abraham obeyed and began a life journey of “looking” for the ultimate fulfillment of God’s will and destiny for his life.
 
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Hebrews 11:8
 
During his journey he encountered many challenges that could have persuaded him to give up, turn back, or lose his faith and hope. What kept Abraham motivated? When circumstances made the journey difficult. When personal shortcomings may have made him feel “unworthy” or “disqualified”. What gave him the determination to continue? What caused him to rise up from the disappointments and setbacks and keep on keeping on?
 
I propose that “vision” was a major motivation to Abraham. At one point the Lord instructed Abraham to use his “natural” vision to look toward the promises and blessings that were in the future.
 
14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had left him, Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
15 For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your posterity forever.
16 And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted.
17 Arise, walk through the land, the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.
Genesis 13:14-17 (Amplified)
 
Think about this. The Lord said, “look…with your “natural” eyesight; north, south, east, west.
As far as you can see…I will give it to you.”
 
Now, the “natural” eye can only see about three miles. So then, the land being given to Abraham and his descendants was certainly beyond what he could see in every direction.
 
What the Lord was promising Abraham was beyond “natural” eyesight.
 
Of greater importance and value than the land that Abraham could see… and the land that he could not see; was the “blessing”. The spiritual blessing and promise of God could only be “seen” and appreciated with “spiritual” eyesight. This requires “vision” … spiritual vision.
 
With Abraham being our example, let’s consider our own vision. As with Abraham, the Lord has called every believer to a plan and purpose. In general believers are called (invited) to receive the salvation of God provided through our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, believers are called to become witnesses of the goodness, greatness, and grace of God. But the “calling” doesn’t stop there.
 
Every believer has a “distinct”- God designed calling, plan, and purpose to fulfill. Each of us are born to be distinctly unique. With this understanding comes individualized responsibility. This responsibility is for each of us to become who God designed us to be and to fulfill our personalized and assigned purpose.
 
One may initially think that it is difficult to discover and get clarity about this “distinct” and individualized purpose. This is where our faith comes in. Just like Abraham…”by faith” (read Hebrews 11:8-10 again). “By faith”; we must believe, obey, take the journey, remain committed no matter what happens, persevere, and always keep the “vision”.
 
This “vision” is what will guide us, motivate us, and inspire us through all of life’s challenges.
This “vision” will bring hope into our hearts.
This “vision” must be in us at all times.
This “vision” is what enables us to see farther than our “natural” eyesight can see and comprehend.
 
Remember; “we walk by faith, not by sight:) (II Corinthians 5:7)
 
More about “Vision” coming soon…
 
D L Rogers