Where there is no vision, the people perish.Prov 29:18, KJV
The vision here, Hebrew חזון (chazÅn), is prophecy or prophetic vision. Without it, the people perish; that is, they are made naked, they rebel, and they set out to play. These are all the characteristics of the Israel when they lost sight of Moses because he was forty days and nights before the LORD (Ex 32:6). Although the KJV uses the word perish, the ESV translates the original Hebrew, “cast off restraint.” The ESV may be easier to grasp in application for the redeemed saint. We don’t perish eternally. Instead, we are made naked, we rebel, we set out to play. How does this truth apply to us as believers in Christ Jesus? In this way—
When we lose sight of Jesus Christ (no vision), we are not clothed with His righteousness, but instead laid bare in the shame of our nakedness (perish). When the eyes of our faith stray from viewing Christ (no vision), we rebel against God’s will, rebel against His commandments, and rebel against submission to Christ the King (perish). The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy (Rev 19:10); therefore, when our purpose and our goal is not the exaltation of Jesus Christ in our lives (no vision), we set out to play, committing all kinds of idolatry (perish). This is what Christian discipline is all about. Why? The stubborn corruptions of the flesh which still remains does not want to see Christ. Flesh doesn’t want to see Christ in Scripture; it wants to justify itself by its own works. Flesh doesn’t want to see Christ in other believers; it wants to sit in judgment upon a brother or sister, dishonoring grace. Flesh doesn’t want to potentially see Christ in unbelievers; it wants to exalt itself in self-idolatry and make Christianity an exclusive right rather than a gracious privilege. One of our prayers should be that we may have the “revelation in the knowledge of [Christ]”(Eph 1:17) and the eyes of our understanding enlightened (Eph 1:18); and with this vision of Christ, we may not perish, but instead know “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” (Eph 1:19).
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Jon Cardwell writes devotional thoughts like the one above & sends them via email daily (except Sunday). Go to www.calvarybaptistninilchik.com/devotionals.html or click the optional weblink below.
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