Luke tells us something that Paul said to do that is both simple and practical yet we so often fail to follow his advice to our own detriment.
Acts 26:19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision
Oswald Chamber said something in regard to this verse that stuck with me: “If we lose the vision we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage.” In giving us his answer he stated the sum substance of his vision… My Utmost for His Highest.
Those words have been a constant reminder for me to make the Lord a critical part of every minute of my 24 hours. And along the way I have had to learn that the Holy Spirit’s desire is to remind me of and constantly guide me in following the heavenly vision. The test for that process is what am I doing this very minute, not just in my times of devotion and prayer? Chambers also made a statement that underlines this fact: “We cannot attain to a vision, we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself.” But we get so practical that we forget the vision.
The vision!
I have been writing about, teaching and preaching about the vision for a long time. But it was just over the past 10 years that the Holy Spirit has cemented the vision into my spirit. Yes, it is the same vision for every believer, every member of the bride of Christ. It is a vision that I see in virtually every scripture I read and every correction I receive from the Holy Spirit. It is a vision that is at the center of who I am and whose I am. And so it should be for everyone who “is” the bride of Christ. It is a vision that is so fundamental, so foundational, and so clear that I often wonder how I could have studied the Word all these years and yet never fully grasped its importance. But when you put it in perspective of how our Lord views the world it really becomes so simple.
Every man, woman and child that has ever lived has been given the same vision… Prepare in this life to meet God! No one is exempt. For His bride, He has clarified the vision by setting forth both the vision, the process and the goal. Once again I go back to Paul, who made the “mystery” so very clear and simple:
Rom 8:29-30 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The vision is to become like Jesus. His character is the character that has been instilled within us in His Spirit. Yes, I know that I keep coming back to this all the time, but it is the foundation of our relationship with Him. And that is what struck me about what Chambers said: “This can only be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision. The test is the sixty seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings.”
Our challenge is to remember that our relationship with Jesus, our walk with Him, is constantly aligned with the vision He has set before us. We are to obediently allow the Holy Spirit to reveal each and every blemish that needs to be removed to allow Jesus’ character (which is fully and completely within us) so that Jesus’ character can be revealed to our world… for His glory. And Chambers is correct. That can only happen – our vision can only be attained – if we continually and resolutely recall the vision and are obedient to it minute-by-minute as we walk through the trials and tribulations of this life, ever preparing for the moment that we meet God at His judgement seat where we want to hear those precious words…
Matt 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.‘
The bottom line… It is essential for us to practice the walk of the feet in light of the vision.