Paying the price for what you believe in

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

 It is never easy to see something you believe in come to fruition. It will usually be both costly and sacrificial.

The London Olympics is just a few weeks away and at the moment the Olympic torch is touring the nation.  It is humbling to hear how people got a vision in 1997 to see the Olympics come to London and believed in it enough to resolutely pursue it. They have had to persevere through trials and difficulties, through disappointments and victories to see the fulfilment of the vision. Now they are seeing their dream come true.

For many ordinary people their lives are being transformed by the honour of carrying the Olympic torch even a short distance. The onlookers too are greatly touched as they watch these people carrying the torch, some of whom have also had to overcome great difficulties in their lives . It isn’t just about famous sportspeople but ordinary men and women.

Jesus had to resolutely overcome every difficulty to fulfil the vision he had of sinners being saved through his death on the cross. No one has endured what Jesus did to conquer sin and death.  Paul also had to endure many hardships to fulfil the vision he had of reaching the Jews and Gentiles with the Gospel and in the process he gave the Church the most wonderful teachings on Kingdom life.

You too may be carrying a vision that is requiring great perseverance to see come to fruition. It is never easy but it will be worthwhile. Others will reap the benefit of your diligence.

One of my favourite songs by Point of Grace goes, ‘When I said that I would follow, it was with an honest heart but I never fully understood the cost. But there are saints throughout the ages and there are those today who show us what it really means to carry the cross.’

Let’s remember with gratitude those who have gone before us and persevered for something we may take for granted today. Let’s also persevere with the vision God has given us to see that which we believe in come true.

Where there is no vision

Where there is no vision, the people perish Proverbs 29: 18

People with no vision just cannot see things no matter what you say. It is like a mist over their eyes. Today we went to a very beautiful part of the country and were told that the views were magnificent but we couldn’t see it because there was a heavy sea mist!  Fortunately the mist cleared, the sun came out and we discovered for ourselves how lovely the views were.

People with no vision are like that – no matter how much you try and explain what you know to be true they cannot see it. This can be the case for those who do not know the Lord yet. We try and explain how wonderful God is and how much he loves us but they just cannot see it. They need the Holy Spirit to blow away the mists of misunderstanding, deception, doubt and unbelief so they can see for themselves that what you say is true.  

However it can also be a problem for Christians who desperately need the revelation of God’s ways and vision for the future. Too often we are hampered by doubts and disappointments from the past when things may have not worked out the way we had hoped or when people have let us down.  We too need the Holy Spirit to blow away our doubts and disappointments and give us fresh vision so we can see the way ahead that God has planned for us.

As the verse shows, no vision means people perish – they have nothing to live for. Of course this does not necessarily mean literally but people’s hopes and dreams die when there is no vision. People’s faith begins to wither when there is no sense of purpose, calling or destiny. God wants us to have vision so let’s blow the dust off our past hopes and dreams and look afresh at what God has spoken over our lives. Let’s renew our destiny and calling.

I encourage you to go back and look at things that God has spoken directly to you or maybe others have told you and let God re-envision you with his hope and his plans for your future.