The Importance of Vision

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18

We see it in nations all across the world.

Lawlessness.  

1 John 3:4 tells us, "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."

Scripture goes on to tell us that very many of us there are who practice such things, but outwardly fool many people. "So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:28). But God reminds us that He is not fooled as man is fooled by outward shows and demonstrations.  Matthew 7:23 says, "And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

Jesus the Christ is the One, "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14).

But what does all this lawlessness talk have to do with the importance of vision?

EVERYTHING.

What is this vision?  It is that the righteous shall live by faith.  

One cannot be righteous and lawless at the same time.  We cannot have faith's vision as recorded in Habakkuk 2 for ALL to read unless we have been redeemed from ALL lawlessness.  We cannot keep a little lawlessness and be zealous for good works at the same time.

Read all of Habakkuk 2.  Verses 1-4 read as follows:

I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.

For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith."

We need this vision in families, Fathers and Mothers.  We need this vision in cities, Mayors and City Managers.  We need this vision in schools, Teachers and Principals.  We need this vision in churches, Pastors and Teachers.  And we need this vision in nations, oh Presidents, Kings, Queens and all Leaders.

May all who read the vision run.

The righteous shall live by his faith.

Goodnight, Runners.