THE IMPORTANCE OF VISION

As a pastor, I am in the vision business. My job is to help people and churches identify the vision God has for them, to embrace it, and to work in obedience to that vision. The scriptures tell us that when the people of God begin to move to a new level of impact and fruitfulness "your old men will see visions and your young men will dream dreams." Proverbs tells us, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." A more accurate translation is "where there are no VISIONARIES the people CAST OFF RESTRAINT." What that literally means is that not everyone originates the vision. It's not done by majority vote and it is not dependent upon everyone giving it equal support. But most of us live by "little pictures" defined by the comforts and concerns of everyday existence. Our vision is limited by our limited experiences, the boxes we live in. God's vision always takes us outside the box. The body of Christ lives by "the big picture" - what God is doing and having visioncasters who help us see what GOD is doing and encourage us to go and do what God is doing.

Churches without vision "cast off restraint." That means they have no focus, no boundaries, temporary expectations. They also have no unity because as individuals, we think like individuals. Armed with a vision, we are drawn together by the higher goal of serving Christ instead of self or self-interest,a true unity of the Spirit that blesses everyone.

Note: This Sunday, September 13, 2009 at the Church of God of Landisville--we will be observing SHARE THE DREAM Sunday where we examine the vision that God has given this congregation for serving Him and His world. You can find out more about the church, its location, its worship times, its ministry at our website www.coglandisville.org.