“Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 2:8
Why does God command us to pray, and why does He command us to believe Him for which He alone is capable and willing to accomplish? The answer lies in who HE is as opposed to what man is. The problem in addressing this difference lies in both the sinfulness of man in his pride to accept it, and the incapacity of man to grasp it in truth apart from the Spirit of God revealing it to him. The need of having the vision, God’s vision, as opposed to that of men is critical to faith. Faith in God is only as great as one’s vision of Him, and what He has declared of Himself in His word. For the one who will take Genesis 1:1 as the truth of God being the sole Creator, and Master Designer, all powerful, who speaks and worlds are made, to this one faith is given to believe Him for the wonderful thing worthy of His great name. To the one who sees Christ, the son of man and Son of God, hanging helplessly in agony upon the tree of Calvary, there to take upon Himself the sins of the world, of all men, to this one comes the faith to petition God to save all men, even unto the ends of the earth. How can this be, and how can a person believe God to do such a thing? Again, the answer lies in who God IS, and also, what faith’s perception of Him is. If one believes that Christ has tasted death for all men, and that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son to save us all, then there arises in the heart the thought and conviction that, with the commandment of God to the church to “go” disciple all nations, there is not only the assurance of His presence, but the power and authority to see it occur. Though each man and woman of faith has a “measure” of faith, according to the calling and the gifts of each one, there is a faith that reaches to the ends of the earth, for it is not the will of God that any should perish. What then is our vision, and how do we pray according to this vision that God has given us?
The first vision is that of God Himself, sitting upon His throne, and yet, at the same time, beholding the Son of God dying on Calvary, risen from the dead. The Creator and Redeemer are one, and true faith is to be centered, focused upon Him, grasping something of His sovereign will and purpose, believing Him for His resources to be supplied for every endeavor.
The second vision is that which God gives to every believer concerning his or her calling, and the gifts accompanying it. The greatness, or extent, of this vision, is like that of God. In the measure that we receive knowledge of it by worship, the acquiring of the knowledge of the word of God and the will of God for an individual, it does not matter if the vision is great or small. That which is essential is that the believer receive that which God would have him be committed to believe Him for. All becomes possible to the one who in humble faith, according to the grace of God, lays hold upon God for that which he knows is the will and purpose of God, whether it be at home or to the ends of the earth. We forget sometimes that for someone on the other side of the globe, the “ends of the earth” are where WE live, so the promise applies to everywhere and all men.
How are these visions received? It was David who wrote: “They have seen Thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.” (Ps.68:24) Clarity of vision comes in worship.
Dear Father, Teach us to worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.