Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Where there is no vision, people run wild, doing as they please, they live under no governing principles or laws. If we want to have a meaningful and purposeful life, we need a vision from God, so that our life stays on a straight path, with clear direction to undertake God's will. Even if we spread the Gospel, it must be done with a clear view of God's will and purpose, we need a vision for that, otherwise our gospel preaching will not be genuine - we will be speaking of things we have not seen ourselves.
Saul, as a Jew, was a man who thought he could see, with a clear purpose from God. But then one day God gave Paul a heavenly vision which changed his life around (Acts 9:1-5). On the one hand, Paul had a heavenly vision, and on the other hand Paul was blinded and became weak. The blindness is a blessing, as it ultimately causes us to depend on God.
Paul lived and served God according to this heavenly vision (Acts 26:19).
When God gives us a vision, it reveals Christ. Paul's vision revealed Christ, not just things (Acts 26:16). Similarly, when John received the vision in Revelation, he didn't just see what would happen in the future, John saw Christ (Revelation 1:1 and onwards). Visions and revelations without seeing Christ, are not real or useful visions. This is how we can know if a vision we receive is truly from God or not.
How to have a heavenly vision?
As with Paul, only God can give us visions, we cannot produce them ourselves. If God wants us to see, we will see, if God wants us to be blinded, we will be blinded. Even so, we have some responsibility concerning having an open heart to God.
Not everyone needs a vision directly from God like Paul had. There are movements in Christianity today, which encourage people to seek visions, and who believe that every person should receive visions directly from God. But this invariably exposes the individual to mysticism and the psychic (soulish) realm. However we should not seek visions and neither do we need to seek visions. Even though Paul had the heavenly vision, Timothy on the other hand served God according to the vision which came via Paul and Holy Scripture (2 Tim 3:14-15). It is sufficient for most Christians, to serve God according to the vision already revealed in Holy Scripture, and the vision which God has given to others.
Where there is no vision, people run wild, doing as they please, they live under no governing principles or laws. If we want to have a meaningful and purposeful life, we need a vision from God, so that our life stays on a straight path, with clear direction to undertake God's will. Even if we spread the Gospel, it must be done with a clear view of God's will and purpose, we need a vision for that, otherwise our gospel preaching will not be genuine - we will be speaking of things we have not seen ourselves.
Saul, as a Jew, was a man who thought he could see, with a clear purpose from God. But then one day God gave Paul a heavenly vision which changed his life around (Acts 9:1-5). On the one hand, Paul had a heavenly vision, and on the other hand Paul was blinded and became weak. The blindness is a blessing, as it ultimately causes us to depend on God.
Paul lived and served God according to this heavenly vision (Acts 26:19).
When God gives us a vision, it reveals Christ. Paul's vision revealed Christ, not just things (Acts 26:16). Similarly, when John received the vision in Revelation, he didn't just see what would happen in the future, John saw Christ (Revelation 1:1 and onwards). Visions and revelations without seeing Christ, are not real or useful visions. This is how we can know if a vision we receive is truly from God or not.
How to have a heavenly vision?
As with Paul, only God can give us visions, we cannot produce them ourselves. If God wants us to see, we will see, if God wants us to be blinded, we will be blinded. Even so, we have some responsibility concerning having an open heart to God.
Not everyone needs a vision directly from God like Paul had. There are movements in Christianity today, which encourage people to seek visions, and who believe that every person should receive visions directly from God. But this invariably exposes the individual to mysticism and the psychic (soulish) realm. However we should not seek visions and neither do we need to seek visions. Even though Paul had the heavenly vision, Timothy on the other hand served God according to the vision which came via Paul and Holy Scripture (2 Tim 3:14-15). It is sufficient for most Christians, to serve God according to the vision already revealed in Holy Scripture, and the vision which God has given to others.
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