“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”
— Acts 26:19, NIV
Helen Keller was once asked what would be worse than being born blind. She quickly replied,
“To have sight and no vision.”
She was a wise woman. Though she was both blind and deaf, she discovered one of the secrets to a truly successful life.
There have been others who understood the importance of vision—then lost it.
- When David had a vision, he conquered Goliath. When he lost his vision, he couldn’t conquer his own lust.
- When Samson had a vision, he was known as a strong man who defeated enemies and judged a nation. When he lost his vision, he couldn’t resist Delilah.
- When Solomon had a vision, he was the wisest man in the world. But when he lost it, he couldn’t control his passion for power and gold.
- When King Saul had a vision, he was a mighty king. When he lost it, jealousy consumed him.
- When Elijah had a vision, he called down fire from heaven and prophesied boldly. But when he lost his vision, he ran from Jezebel, overtaken by fear and depression.
“The glory of God is man fully alive,” wrote Irenaeus, a second-century theologian.
The apostle Paul was fully alive. His passion for God drove him to preach the Gospel at any cost, risk his life, and pour himself out for others. He faced his weaknesses head-on.
He cried,
“Oh, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?” (Romans 7:24)
And then he answered his own cry — by surrendering completely to Christ. Spirit, soul, and body. He was never afraid to live fully for God… to love, to hurt, to wrestle, and to obey the vision. As he boldly told King Agrippa, that vision was a gift from heaven.
So here’s the invitation:
Ask the Lord to give you a vision for your life.
Seek it. Expect it.
And then… ask for the wisdom and strength to follow it.
“When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic.”
—Charles Swindoll
