“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 had discovered one of the secrets to a successful life.
There have been others who knew the importance of vision—only to lose 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 could defeat his enemies and serve as a judge for his nation; when he lost his vision, he no longer had the strength to resist Delilah.
When Solomon had a vision, he was the wisest man in the world; when he lost the dream, the vision God gave him, 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, he was consumed by jealousy.
When Elijah had a vision, he called down fire from heaven and prophesied on the mountain top for God; when he lost his vision, he ran from the wicked queen, Jezebel, and fell prey to 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 motivated him to preach the Gospel at any cost, to risk his life, and to pour himself into the lives of others. He wrestled with his problems straight on.
He cried out to God, “Oh, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?” (Romans 7:24).
He answered his own question by submitting himself, spirit, soul, and body to the Lord. He was never afraid to live for God, to love, to hurt, to plunge into this life to which God had called him— and, as he stated so boldly to King Agrippa, he obeyed the vision as a gift from heaven.
Ask the Lord to give you a vision for your life. Seek it. Expect it. 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
