Lots of people have visions. In the Bible, the prophet Daniel had visions of the coming Messiah, whom he described as the Son of Man. In the 1800’s, children had visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads on Christmas Eve (while nestled all snug in their beds). Over the centuries, Christians have had visions of founding ministries that have healed the sick, housed the poor and orphaned, comforted the grieving, and spread the Gospel around the world. Even I have had visions: one of me standing on the platform at the Olympics, hearing the national anthem play while they hang a gold medal around my neck – unfortunately, I haven’t figured out yet which sport to compete in. The other vision, of me standing in a pulpit and preaching God’s Word to crowds of people, has fortunately been realized.
It’s easy to have a vision – if by vision we mean something that we see in our mind’s eye. But even as we recognize that we have seen something in our mind that does not yet exist, we have to ask two absolutely essential questions: 1. What is the source of the vision? and 2. What do I do about it?
“What is the source of the vision?
First we must ask, “What is the source of the vision?” Is it something I have conjured up from my own desires and ambitions? Maybe my friends or family have expressed an interest in something, and I imagine a way to make their wish come true. Maybe I see a neighbor’s new car, and visualize myself driving around in something faster and cooler (I’m not coveting my neighbor’s car if I want something better than he has! . . . I think . . .). Maybe I hear of some need in the community, and form a vision of meeting that need through a new organization. Maybe I just want to do something important so I can feel my life counts. Maybe, my vision comes from a combination of motives, some more altruistic than others. For example, my Olympic vision (or fantasy) is a combination of patriotism (winning a medal for the USA) and ego (me being on the stand and hearing the applause).
This isn’t to say that self-created visions are necessarily bad. My winning a gold medal would be a good thing! Likewise, many of the good products and services that enrich and enhance our lives came about because someone had a vision of something that could be done better. The technology we take for granted these days began as ideas – even visions – in people’s minds. “What if we could talk to people far away?” and “What if we could talk to those people with a device we can carry in our pocket?” and “What if we could see what’s going on in a sick person with some kind of machine?” and “What if we could fly?” and so on.
But self-devised visions can also be evil.
But self-devised visions can also be evil. Psalm 73:7 says, “From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.” and Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” As I wrote in last week’s blog, there is nothing that man has not corrupted by his sin, and that includes our ability to imagine, create, and devise things; in short, our self-inspired visions may harm ourselves or others. A ruler who has visions of wealth and glory sends armies to conquer, kill, and destroy. Or a CEO has a vision of market dominance, and therefore destroys smaller competitors. A televangelist has a vision of leading a megachurch with his own mansion, jet plane, and yacht (for getting away to pray?). A man or woman has visions of how wonderful life would be if they could only be with their neighbor’s spouse. You get the idea: visions which come from our own minds and hearts can bring good and/or evil if they are fulfilled.
There is of course, another, very different source of visions, and that is the almighty God. He who gave Daniel the messianic vision (Daniel 7), who gave Jacob the vision of a ladder joining heaven and earth (Genesis 28), who gave Peter a vision that led to the acceptance of gentiles into the Church (Acts 10), and who gave John of heaven and of things to come (Revelation), can still give visions to his people. He does so to inform, inspire, and guide believers to do good works which he has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). He can warn us in a vision, as he warned Joseph to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod’s soldiers (Matthew 2). He can rebuke us to stop what we were going to do (Numbers 22). He can show us the future. He can reveal the spiritual realities around us (2 Kings 6). As Joel prophesied would happen, and as Peter confirmed was now taking place: “your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” These visions and dreams would come through the power of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon us (Acts 2:17). God does give visions, but unlike our man-made visions, the ones from God are always good and holy.
So, you might (and should) ask, “How do I know a vision is from God and not from my own imaginings?” Good question; I’m glad you asked. There isn’t always a clear answer to this, but the following are indications your vision is likely from God:
- You have prayed about the vision and asked God whether it is from him.
- The vision is consistent with Scripture. God may inspire you to start a homeless shelter program to help the poor; but is not going to inspire you to start a drug cartel.
- Fulfilling the vision would bring good to people, not harm. And in doing so, God will be honored and glorified. Jesus said to let our light so shine before others, that they see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
- While you may benefit in this life from following the Lord’s will, your desire is to please and serve God, not yourself. Seeking financial and prideful rewards for your actions are clues your vision may have earthly (or even demonic) origins.
- The vision is about doing something that is out of your comfort zone, and is not something you have always secretly wanted to do. Maybe you have a vision of serving in the mission field, but the thought of living in another country terrifies you; that vision is likely from God. When I received my immediate call to ministry, being a pastor was not even in my mind as an option. The thought terrified me.
- Your vision is confirmed by other people, especially other believers. They may come to you and say they think you should consider a certain action or ministry, or they may convey that the Lord wants you to do that thing. The fact that others are confirming your vision is evidence it’s not just in your own mind.
- The vision won’t let you go. It sticks with you, keeps coming up, and won’t let you push it aside. You may even be miserable trying to avoid doing what you are being called to do. My former senior pastor said that his advice to young men considering the ministry was to do anything else but pastoral ministry – if they could. Only if the Lord wouldn’t let them have peace in every other pursuit they tried, should they seek the ministry.
If these points consistently support your vision, then it is probably from God.
“What do I do about the vision?”
The second question we must ask is, “What do I do about the vision?” Of course, if the vision is from ourselves, we can decide whether or not to pursue it based on our preferences, resources, and abilities. We still should pray to make sure our vision is at least consistent with biblical teachings, and we should conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity as we pursue our dream. We should also pray to make sure our vision will not interfere with something else God has for us to do. For example, one of the men featured in the movie, Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell, was a fast runner for his day (and he won a gold medal at the 1924 Olympics!). But though he had success as an athlete, God had a greater call on his life. Eric used his fame as a platform for preaching the Gospel, and followed God’s vision for him to serve as a missionary to China -where he gave his life for the Lord. We can’t let the good thing we want to do prevent us doing something even more important that God has for us to do.
But if, on the other hand, we are sure the vision is from God, then it must take our priority. There may be a timing factor which delays our response until God has put things in place for fulfilling the vision, but if we keep putting off our response until everything is “ready,” we may end up missing out entirely. If we trust only in our knowledge, abilities, contacts, and material resources, we’re not trusting God to provide what is needed to do what he has called us to do. When God calls, he provides, even if we can’t see how it could happen. In fact, I believe God holds back our knowledge at times to force us to depend on him. He wants our faith and not just our works.
He wants our faith and not just our works.
Therefore, if God has given you a vision, go for it! It may seem beyond your reach, abilities, and resources. It may upset your carefully manicured life. It may threaten you health, wealth, and pride. But that’s okay, because when God gives you a vision, it’s for something much better than sugar plums!
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Read: Genesis 28, Daniel 7, 2 Kings 6, and Joel 2:28