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A life without vision is a life without direction and purpose. Proverbs 29:18 says, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” Having vision and focus is harder than not having them. But if we have given our lives to Jesus, God has created us with a purpose (Romans 8:28). When we believe in Jesus and give our lives to him, trusting fully in his grace, we are not just saved and going to heaven. We have purposes here on earth that God has for us to accomplish.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Remade in Jesus
It is easy to get bitter over the things we are not supposed to do than it is to take joy in the things God blesses us with, to think that the Christian life is about a list of “do’s” and “don’ts.” Don’t get caught up in this mindset. The truth is, ungodly things that the world says you are “missing out on” by removing from your life are distracting you from the infinite value of a close relationship with Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul says these things are worthless.
Philippians 3:8-9a Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.
Seek God and he will change the desires of your heart to long for the things he knows are best. This will bring you true joy and fulfillment. The Christian life is all about being made more and more like Jesus and seeking God, having our very wills and desires changed into something so much greater than what we’ve imagined for ourselves.
Remembering God’s promises
Habakkuk 2:2-3 Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time.
In these verses, God tells Habakkuk to write down and remember his words because he is going to bring judgment. God wants his people to have a record when the judgment comes so they will remember that he keeps his promises.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 isn’t telling all of us to write down things, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep a record of our goals. Remembering God’s mighty acts is an important principle all over the scriptures (Deuteronomy 4:20) and God instructed Moses and others to “write down” his mighty acts so his people would not forget him and his commands (Exodus 17:14). Writing things down must be important, because God chose to keep a record of his acts in written language – the Bible.
Perseverance
We need an eternal mindset when it comes to living in this world.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Everyone was created by God and he has plans for us. If we choose to ignore God’s word and God’s specific plans for us, we are living a life that ultimately comes to nothing. The Book of Ecclesiastes says that everything in the world is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:2). And that is what our lives are without God.
Ecclesiastes 1:11 We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.
If you are not living for and through Jesus Christ, your life will have no lasting value; it will be a life without vision and lasting purpose; meaningless! Persevere. Follow God and live a life of eternal value.
Written content for this topic by Daniel Martin.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- What does it mean when Proverbs 29 says, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild?”
- If you are a follower of Jesus, are you developing an understanding of what God’s purposes are for you in this life? What are some of these things?
- What are some ways your vision and desires have changed since you first believed in Jesus?
- How would your perspectives and prayer life change if you made a list and prayed consistently for God to answer that list of prayers? What things would be on this list?
- Has God asked you to give up some things like Jesus did to the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18-23? What were or are these things? Why was or is it difficult?
- What would your life look like if you chose to serve yourself instead of the Lord?
- How do you spend your time? What are some “weights” that are slowing down your marathon of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)? What should you do about these things?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
