What Is Your Vision?

Eastman Kodak Co., that 132-year-old trailblazer, has finally called it quits—at least for now. They filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. The article mentioned that everyone feels saddened by the demise of Kodak "because it was the company we entrusted our most treasured possession to—our memories."

The article quoted a former employee who summed up why it was such sad news: "It's one of the few companies that wiggled its way into the fabric of American life and the American family." But that wasn't enough to save the company. Why did it get so far off-track?

In this blog post, James Emery White notes that Kodak developed digital photography but in the end they "didn't know what business they were in." White recalls the words of business guru Tom Peters who wrote in The Search for Excellence that the railroad barons encountered a similar end: "they thought they were in the train business. But they were actually in the transportation business."

White contends that church needs to ask the same question: What business are we really in?
-Buffalo News, January 23, 2012, Ben Dobbin

Any successful endeavor requires a vision. The word "vision" literally means the ability to see things that are visible. But it also used to mean the ability to see other things, such as: a) "unusual competence in discernment or perception; intelligent foresight" (American Heritage Dictionary) b) "Vision is the art of seeing things invisible" (Jonathan Swift)

Such ventures as business or politics require "men of vision." Companies require CEOs with vision, countries require leaders with vision. Let's face it, without the ability to visualize worthy goals and how these can be realized, very little of importance is achieved.

In the Lord's work, we desperately need an elevated vision of what it is all about. We need greater goals (what can be done) and greater objectives (how it can be done). Jesus certainly had a great vision: the saving of souls! (cf. Matthew 9:36-38; John 4:35). We need to have visions that are worthy of the "King of kings and Lord of lords."

What can help us to elevate and enlarge our vision in the Lord's work? Let's first notice how an inadequate vision can actually stifle our work. There are two ways our vision can be inadequate. What is "inadequate vision"? Perhaps an illustration is needed to clarify this.

Suppose a man is driven by the "vision" of "making as much money as possible." Two things may keep him from making as much money as he should. 1) He may be limited in his idea of what is "a lot of money." 2) He may never make any specific plans other than have the vague notion of "making as much as possible." His problem? His vision may be too small concerning what can be done. It may be too general without any plan for what he can be doing now to make his vision a reality.

Similarly, our vision of the Lord's work may likewise be inadequate. We may have the vision of "teaching as many people the gospel as possible." This is a noble vision on the surface, but we might by afflicted by the same shortcomings as mentioned above. We may think too small concerning what can be done, and/or we may think too generally about what we should be doing.

Getting back to the two ways in which our vision can be inadequate, the first is the problem of a vision that is too general. No dream has ever been achieved except by someone who dared to flesh it out in terms of the specifics necessary to make the dream a reality.

For example, it is fine to plan: to go to heaven; to serve the Lord faithfully; to do the work of evangelism. But how do we do such things? By what means do we get those results? What specific, measurable actions will take us where we want to be? How much time, effort, and money will it take? We need to see our vision of the Lord's work in concrete terms of things we can actually do...and plan specifically how much of them we are going to do!

The second way our vision can be inadequate is the problem of a vision that is too little. When we do think specifically about the Lord's work, we often fail to set our sights high enough. Perhaps we are hindered by our past experience. Personal efforts made in the past may have not born fruit. Or congregational efforts did not seem to go anywhere.

Perhaps we have been fed a steady diet of defeatism. Maybe we have been told by others that people are not interested in spiritual matters anymore. We may even be guilty of telling ourselves that people are not interested.

With small visions, many churches and individuals seem content with: just "keeping house for the Lord" or just an occasional conversion, usually involving our children or spouses. With the limited vision of many churches, little is done and little is accomplished.

I believe the Lord intends greater things for His church, especially for those servants with a willingness to work (cf. Matthew 13:31-33; 1 Corinthians 16:8-9; Revelation 3:8). What does a vision worthy of our Lord's work require? Perhaps the following thoughts might be a step in the right direction...

Our vision needs to be great. It needs to be great if we are to double church attendance every year; and to spread the gospel to thousands in our community each year. Our vision needs specific action-steps. For example, to double church attendance every year, invite two people a week. By the end of the year you will likely have a least one attending regularly. Provide transportation to people who can't drive; is the value of a soul not worth what time or effort might be involved? (cf. Matthew 16:26).

If each person succeeded is just getting one person to come regularly, the attendance would easily double. To spread the gospel to thousands in our community each year, give a tract to one person per week. A congregation of 50 would share the gospel with more than 2500 people per year. How does that compare to the past year, where no vision was present?

Our vision needs faith. Faith in the power of the gospel to save souls (Romans 1:16-17); and to produce souls that have been born again (1 Peter 1:22-25). Faith in the power of the Lord to open doors for His prepared servants (1 Corinthians 16:8-9; Revelation 3:8); and to impower His servants wanting to do His will (Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 3:16,20).

Our vision needs boldness. This is a virtue displayed often by the early Christians (Acts 4:13; 9:27; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 28:31); for which they prayed and solicited prayers (Acts 4:29,30; Ephesians 6:19-20). Vision with a boldness based upon our hope in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:12) to say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said, despite the circumstances (1 Thessalonians 2:2).

Our vision needs persistence. Persistence in not losing heart, for we shall reap in due time (Galatians 6:9). Persistence in always abounding, knowing that our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Many visions are never realized because people give up too soon!

I conclude by noting that not all "vision" is good. Some have "tunnel vision" - focusing on small and often insignificant problems in the church. Additionally, some have "visions of despair" - seeing only the negative, never the positive.

But a vision that has...

a. A grand scope worthy of its mission (saving souls)
b. Specific steps to accomplishing its goal (teaching others)
c. Faith in the Lord and in His word
d. Boldness and perseverance in carrying it out

...such a vision is what the people of God need today!

Prayer:

Teach us, Lord, to build up our treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Amen

May God bless you always,

Jeanine