The Biblical book of Proverbs is highly recognized for its profoundly wise sayings. One declaration says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish (KJV).” (a) [see end notes for all Scriptures] This verse declares a common vision is the stabilizing value in interactive groups of people.
When gathering groups do not maintain a common vision for life beyond their individuality, they eventually divide and perish as “a people.” (b) So we ask – why do people of faith pursue a vision?
Understanding Visions
Visions provide viewpoints that can elevate our overall understanding of reality and improve our pursuit of a good life. Visions generally have an improving quality that helps us revise our earlier perceptions, overcome past experiences, labor through complications, and pursue improvements. Visions are views and perceptions we can see, accept, pursue, ignore, forget, and even allow to die.
We see visions in different ways. One can be a visual our inner eye sees that enables us to pursue a new reality. Another is a thought that drops into consciousness that helps us perceive what we did not understand before. Visions are recognized as inspiring moments that can improve our lives.
While we all seek what is good for us personally, visions inspire us to create a new product, form a service, or organize people for the benefit of others. Visions lend strength to the weak among us by connecting us to the activity of the group that is pursuing the vision. The Gospel is such a vision.
A vision can bring us together, improve our interaction, and elevate the quality of our activity. This reality is experienced in marriages, fellowships, nations, and commitments to God. When a vision is ignored, forgotten, or dismantled, the bonding strength in gatherings tends to fade away and end.
Heavenly visions provide a unifying purpose that can help everyone work through the difficult “good and evil” activities of this world. By following God’s lead and walking in His revealing light, we can overcome the back and forth swing of this world’s “productive and destructive” forces.
Visions lend strength to the weak among us by connecting us to the activity of the group that is pursuing the vision.
God’s Vision
The first vision God provided for mankind was given as He was creating the vast natural universe. The unique planet we call earth was the place He would birth, grow, teach, and develop His offspring. (c) As God’s “image and likeness,” they would be reflections and resemblances of His nature. (d)
As God formed the first human out of natural dust and infused it with His Spirit, He gifted the new personage with the ability to sense, communicate, and interact with both the natural and spiritual realms of reality. As the new being “became” aware, a conscious soul began developing. (e)
Then God took from the first to form a 
second, so their interaction would assist in the growth and development of His family. (f) Every living person has an infusion of the Spirit of God, which we tend to call the “spirit of life.” Every child birthed into this life is an expression of God and man. (g)
The first two chose to ignore the Eternal One and focus on the wisdom gained from the experience of nature’s “good and evil.” (h) It was their choice to ignore God that brought death to their intimate fellowship with their Father. Confusing perceptions of God’s nature, they failed to repent and adjust. Maintaining the choice, they exited the Garden of God’s presence.
Their sin did not negate their ability to hear God, for He came to them and their offspring, to offer insight about their “choices and attitudes.” (i) We are all good and bad reflections and resemblances of the vision: the image and likeness of His character, attitude, and personality (CAP).
Families are small examples of God’s vision for us. They illustrate His functional purpose for us as we are a combination of different abilities, perceptions and personalities. We partake of the present, we are a result of the past, we are involved in forming the future, and we enlarge God’s family.
A vision generally has a spiritual quality that helps us overcome many of this world’s perceptions and limitations. The New Covenant vision of “Christ as God’s Saving Presence” draws responders together to become larger illustrations of God’s loving and embracing nature.
A vision generally has a spiritual quality that helps us overcome many of this world’s perceptions and limitations.
Visionary People
As we respond to God’s influencing oversight, we become visible illustrations of His way of life. Jesus instructed us to “follow Me” (j) and respond to the Father “as you see me” respond. (k) This binds our differences together for a common cause and empowers us to do “greater works.” (l)
One of the most visible features of a heavenly vision is our love of God and one another. Our love is a reflection of God’s love. Did you know God’s love never ceases? (m) Oh yes, under the New Covenant, people of faith that function under God’s guidance are called the “Body of Christ.” (n)
Throughout history, many people have responded to God’s insightful guidance. (o) While God has a vested interest in each person, He has illustrated a parallel purpose in our function as communities and nations. Scripture verifies God’s interest in national affairs by saying: “He sets up and brings down kings,” and “determines the times nations operate and sets their boundaries.” (p)
God even establishes nationhood for “the sake of His people.” (q) Yes, God supernaturally intervenes in human affairs. He gathers many people into fellowships to respond to His influencing guidance while living in this natural world’s good and evil atmosphere. God is also a gathering force for nations, to function as larger witnesses of His reality and ways.
America is an example of a godly vision for a nation. The American Dream is a vision that people gravitate to as they seek to partake of its freedoms. The nation offers, under God, a freeing liberty and justice for all. Such freedom provides opportunities for all to improve the quality of their spiritual and natural life. Everyone can worship God according to the dictates of their heart. We can even pursue levels of prosperity as productive expressions of our Eternal Father.
The Old and New Testaments give details of two times God has called people out of the enslaving two class system, to live under His guidance as a free people. The Bible also tells of a third time He would deliver people of faith into freedom under His care. We can draw much insight from these two examples and learn how to be better people and illustrations of His will for us as “a people.”
Visionary people are able to move beyond this world’s perspectives and limitations. Our ability to be better images and likenesses of God improves as we are responsive to His influencing presence.
Stay tuned as we delve into the historical times God has called “people of faith” to live under His guidance as a nation. Yes, our Bible tells of three! We will note insights and similarities in each call to function as “My People.” Knowing our past is important, so we do not repeat its errors.
Visionary people are able to move beyond this world’s natural perspectives and limitations.
a) Proverbs 29:18; b) Matthew 12:25; c) Genesis 1:1-30; d) Genesis 1:26; e) Genesis 2:7; f) Genesis 2:18, 21-24; 4:1; Acts 17:22-27; g) Genesis 5:1-2; h) Genesis 3:6-7; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Corinthians 11:3; i) Genesis 3:8-14; 4:6-7; j) Matthew 16:24; k) John 5:18; 13:15; l) John 14:12; m) Lamentations 11:12; Psalm 107:1; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8) n) 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:12; o) Isaiah 63:11; 2 Peter 1:21; p) Job 12:23; Daniel 2:21; q) 2 Samuel 5:12
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author