Vision

I was in my mid 20s when I attended a retreat organized by our church, along with a bunch of other people my age. At this retreat something significant happened pertaining to God’s vision for my life. I remember the retreat organizer at some point during the retreat asking if there was anyone who felt they had a vision to fulfill that was too big for them to handle. Immediately I put up my hand and asked to be prayed for. As I was prayed for, somehow I knew deep down to the core of my being that this vision would happen, and I would commit to it at possibly much cost to me. Now in my mid 40s, almost 20 years since that retreat I am amazed how so much of that vision has come to pass, particularly with my current ministry.

When God gives a vision there are several things certain about it. First is that it will certainly be fulfilled, secondly it will be more than we can handle by ourselves and thirdly, we need to exercise faith and move forward in the direction of our vision, despite how bleak and contrary the circumstances may look.

Habakkuk a pre-exilic prophet in Judah faced some tough circumstances. Righteousness seemed to have escaped from Judah as people did not seem to love God anymore. As he lamented to God it was as if he had given up hope on humanity. Then suddenly it happened; vision came from God and presented an alternate ideal to the current reality that he faced. God was indeed listening, and would reward the righteous and punish the wicked. God as if to quell any lingering doubts that Habakkuk might have, said in effect that he had a solution to the problem facing Habakkuk and his generation. He had a vision that he would give to the prophet and that it WILL come to pass. I can just imagine how Habakkuk must have felt at the sudden change in his perspective. For now his hopelessness has been transformed to hope, and his worry about humanity to wonder in Gods goodness. When God gives a vision it is unlike humanity’s gesture to navigate their own future. Surely people can hope, dream and even plan towards it, but the outcome is fickle and unpredictable, akin to how people themselves tend to be. Unlike humanity, with God vision is reality because he speaks to his children in visions and dreams. Since God is not bounded by time, and sees events, past, present and future in a sort of divine panoramic view, he is able to with certainty give glimpses into the future.

Secondly a vision from God is truly more than an individual can handle. Think about it. That’s why Moses needed 70 helpers, and Jesus had disciples and Paul had Timothy.

A God given vision typically is of an epic nature capable of transforming lives, nations and generations, thus making it impossible for any one person to carry out by themselves.

Habakkuk though solely received the vision needed heralds who would help communicate the vision abroad to allow the idea to be disseminated and allow kindred hearts to join in the divine cause. Personally I can attest to this as well where I have failed woefully as I tried to do things on my own, and only through seasons of trial and hardships did I realize that God sends us help for a reason – because we are so infinitely weak in our frail humanity.

Finally, Habakkuk tells us in verse 3 of chapter 2 that the vision would take place. So sure is he that he asks us to wait. This is really about the third aspect of vision which is faith. In Habakkuk 2:3, he confidently asserts that the vision will happen., For the vision awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk you may ask, “how could you be so sure the vision will happen?” The answer is simple, it’s God given faith that allows him to believe in the impossible. After all faith is believing in the unseen and without faith we displease God. (Hebrews 11:1-60) Thus it seems that God has designed the whole thing that way, that if we believe in his vision, it pleases him, and as a happy parent he provides the desires of the children. So I say let faith arise, let faith arise in dreams and visions from heaven, let faith arise in the God with whom with all things are possible.

Lets learn from Habakkuk, to restrain ourselves from impatiently carrying out our own visions and ideals for our life. Instead, sit at the feet of Jesus, spend time with him in his word, and commune with his spirit, until you know his voice.
Then allow his vision to be seen and heard in your innermost being, knowing that
God himself will bring it to pass, even as you faithfully hold on to his promises, which are ever so true.

– Pastor Olu Jegede