Vision

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18)

For twelve years I lived among people with a lack of vision for the future.

In 1989, it was announced by the powers-that-be that approximately one-half of the city of Bridgeton would have to be destroyed in order that the adjoining airport could be expanded with a new runway. This project took many years – the residents of the city were informed well in advance about the eventual destruction of the homes, businesses, churches, schools that had to be eliminated. The most difficult part of the process was watching my community die.

The property values dropped quickly in the community and people had only two choices: sell out to speculators and take a large loss in value on the sale OR wait for the airport to buy them out. But buyouts did not even begin for about eight years as the airport and the city of Bridgeton went into litigation over the right of eminent domain.

Progress and growth came to a screeching halt, improvements and repairs to public, private and commercial property ceased because residents knew what was going to happen in the future.

Why paint and repair a house that will be bulldozed in a few years? Why improve schools or budget for a new playground? Why build churches, businesses or parks? Why plan? Why do anything constructive? After all, within a few years or more half the city of Bridgeton was going to be demolished – so why do anything?

Yes – the city started to suffer from deterioration by neglect, and the physical neglect was accompanied by emotional depression. Residents could make no long terms plans, no vision for the future, because they were in limbo and, in effect, prisoners of the buyout.

The lesson to be learned was this: “When there is no faith or vision in tomorrow, there is no spiritual vitality or energy today.” Oh yes, the airport planners had a faith and vision for a new runway, but the dragged out litigation sapped any vision in tomorrow for the residents.

In 2001, twelve years after the first announcement of the new runway, our home was bought out by the airport and bulldozed down. Thankfully, we did receive a good settlement.

My story is a parable for many Christian communities and churches. Congregations are dying from lack of a vision. Church attendance dwindles from lack of a vision. It’s happening throughout the Western world today. It’s happening in many lives – neglect, decline, degeneration from lack of vision. Our world including much of Christianity needs to be rescued and saved from a lack of vision.

A Vision for Your Life

What about your life? What vision do you have about your relationship with God? Are you one of those Christians who are just “toughing it out” as best you can and, in effect, waiting for that spiritual “buyout” and a new home in heaven? Or are you trying to balance the scales of justice with good deeds slightly outweighing sin so that the Judge will not come down hard on you?

God has only one vision that He wants to get across to every Christian and, in fact, to all people. That vision involves the proper understanding of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

By believing and trusting in Christ as Savior and Lord, the vision involves seeing yourself as born again – radically, completely, eternally changed with a new nature of God because of the indwelling Christ in a living union with your human spirit.

I do not hesitate to say that this vision of Christ in you and you in Christ is the key element of salvation. Jesus Christ in you IS your salvation. (<-- click link) And it is forever (Revelation 13:5) and Christ can never be separated from us (Romans 8:35-39).

It took me about half of my 75 years to get this Christian vision of Christ living in me forever. Before that I was one of those toughing it out, waiting for that spiritual buyout, and in the meantime trying to balance the scales by trying to be good in my own strength. What frustration! What insecurity! What lack of peace! All because I needed God’s purposeful vision of union with His Son.

Don’t you remain in limbo for as many years as I did. Remember the lack of vision in Bridgeton!

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