No Vision - No People

Pause to Ponder, Classics

Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18)

When we hear this verse we have this urge to sit down and write out goals or a statement of mission. Many of us have heard this verse used as a text to encourage people and churches to be goal setters. The church has wrapped its arms around today's marketing growth concepts and this verse gives us our biblical base; we think. If goals and mission statements are synonymous with vision this verse works well. But, are they synonymous? Does this verse really say that without God directed goals a people perish? Ponder with me a moment about what this verse is saying to us...

A quick comparison with other versions reveals that this verse can be translated is various ways. The New International Version reads; "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint." The Revised Standard Version reads: "Where there is no prophecy the people cast off restraint." Here we find that vision is to be understood in relation to prophecy and revelation. A prophet's role was to bring God to the people. The familiar "Thus saith the Lord" rings in our ears when we think of prophets. They were one of the vehicles through which God revealed Himself and His will to His people. Therefore, vision in this verse speaks of a clear definite vision of God.

Where there is no vision of God people cast off restraint and they perish. Where there is no vision of God, there is no fear of God, and where there is no fear of God life becomes cheap. Without a vision of God people have no identity, no boundaries, no direction, no purpose. In such a climate people live selfish, without restraint and this leads to self destruction - the people perish. We need to enter the temple with Isaiah and see God, Holy and seated upon the Throne. We need to see the "kindness and the severity of God" with the Apostle Paul. We need to remember with the writer to the Hebrews that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God." We need to see God in Christ on a cross, dying once and for all, that we can live holy as God originally intended. Yes, what we need first, foremost, and always in our lives, in our churches, is a clear, correct vision of God! Without it we will perish. With it we will live!

Keep Close To Jesus

Pastor Gerry

A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome.