In Psalm 77, we find the psalmist declaring, “…Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” When Jesus answered Satan at one point of being tempted, He declared, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” The primary theme here is the same, the worship of God is not only the first thing, it is the most essential thing. Proverbs 29:18 declares, “Without a vision, the people perish.” A true vision of God is essential to everything else. There is no true service for God, by God, without a true vision OF God.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God spoke to him. (Gen. 17:1-2) And the first thing He gave to Abram was a vision of Himself, “…I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be thou perfect.” Why is the vision so essential, and the first thing? Unless we see God as He is, in light of what we are, there is no way that we are going to able to trust Him to meet every need. John Calvin once said that man does not know the thousandth of his sin. Scripture tells us in Jeremiah 10:23 the following: “…O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah is dealing with the limitations of man, and his total incapacity to find truth, the way, and realize that eternal reason for which he is on this earth. But the argument goes further to prove that we need a vision of God. In Romans 3:10-12, we read, “…There is none righteous, no, not one…there is none that understandeth, none that seeketh after God, …none that doeth good, no not one.” If we are honest with ourselves, we must come to grips with the reality that “…the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” If we are so limited in our understanding and perception of spiritual things as they are, then what is the answer? How can I KNOW, and enter into that blessed reason for which I was created? And if the heart of man is so desperately wicked, and there is inherently NO goodness in the sight of God, apart from that goodness which God imparts, then how is the deepest need of mind and heart to be met? God told Abram to do something so totally impossible, that it is staggering to consider it. “Walk before Me, and be thou perfect.”
How can one who is so limited, and so sinful in and of himself, walk before God the creator, and Christ the redeemer, and do it with a perfect, a clean, a whole heart? It is impossible without a true VISION of God. Faith is connected to that vision. If we do not see God as He is, sufficient to meet our every need in the midst of limitations and sin, then it is impossible to respond to the calling of Abram. We must see Him as the ALMIGHTY GOD, for whom nothing is impossible, and understand that He is willing to meet us in answer to faith. He desires to fully do so with great joy when by faith we begin to rise out of our little world, our little existence, into the realm of fellowship with Him, with Christ, the Eternal One.
Paul wrote to the Philippians (4:19), “…and my God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory IN Christ Jesus.” He writes to the Thessalonians (5:24), “…Faithful is He who calls you who also will do it.” Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:3, “…According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the KNOWLEDGE of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” How do we see God? Is He able to meet us, and this so that we might live to honor and glorify Him? He is still ALMIGHTY GOD, the one for whom nothing is impossible, the sovereign God who does not make mistakes, and who is sufficient to meet every need. Is this my vision of Him?
Do we see Him who is in earnest, and is committed to meet us, to save us, to guide us? Paul speaks of Him who “spared not His only Son…” to demonstrate His love for us…He cannot do more to persuade us of His intentions, His willingness, His desires. “Grace alone can reach me, love alone can win.” (“O Teach Me What It Meaneth” – Lucy A. Bennett)
May He open our eyes to understand that our Maker, Redeemer, is also the One who has called us to experience His Life and blessing. If we would glorify and honor Him, then we must SEE Him and worship Him in truth by the Spirit. Then we shall KNOW His presence, His enabling.
Have a wonderful…vision filled day…
Amen