Dreams and Visions

Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (KJV). The meaning of the word ‘vision’ in this context refers to an oracle, prophecy or divine communication. The Hebrew meaning for the word ‘perish’ suggests, let go; ignore; let alone; avoid; neglect; be let loose; and be loosened of restraint.

For many years I have heard this scripture quoted by people for a variety of reasons. Recently while driving and meditating on this verse I became interested to know how a lack of vision could actually cause one to perish. If the lack of vision has this kind of power then it is imperative that everyone have a vision. I have often heard people say this church, or that church, has lost its vision and is therefore powerless and dead. That would be a serious accusation and even more horrendous, if true. Let’s look closer and see if we can find a balanced and sensible perspective, one that might be edifying and encouraging.

Simply stated, where there is no divine communication or direction, people tend to ignore, avoid and neglect, the will and the desire of God. They may also tend to become unrestrained towards sin and the desires of the flesh. As a result, the work of God in ones life, and quite possibly even ones local church, may perish indeed. The dictionary says a vision is: something seen in a dream or trance; a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation; a mode of seeing or conceiving; unusual discernment or foresight; direct mystical awareness of the supernatural usually in visible form. In other words, something real is going on here. This is not that hard of a concept for believers, considering that faith, “is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” (Heb 11:1, NLT).

“By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” (Heb 11:3, NLT) (4) “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God.” (5) “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying.” (7) “It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.” (8) “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” (11) “It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise.” (32) “Well, how much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith.” (39) “All of these people we have mentioned received God's approval because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. (40) “For God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them, for they can't receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.”

Therefore, we must conclude that vision requires something divine on God’s part; faith on our part; and the acquisition of something not yet attained to be substantiated. Why is this so important? Did you notice the second half of verse forty? Look again, “for they can’t receive the prize at the end of the race until…we…finish…the…race.” If you ever thought you did not have a part in, “The kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;” (Rev 11:15), then you need to turn off the television, open your Bible, and get some God-vision. Without a vision resulting in the completion of the race and the acquisition of the prize, we have nothing more than a dream!

What is a dream? Back to the dictionary: a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep; a state of mind marked by abstraction or release from reality; a series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.

What is the difference between a dreamer and a person that carries a vision? Are you ready? One is asleep, imagining that what he sees is real, and the other is awake and beholding the reality of the promises of God while not seeing with his physical eyes. One will never achieve, and the other will one day touch what he has already acquired. (2 Cor 4:18) “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (NASU).

So what exactly does this mean for us and our local church? It means the difference between recognizing, obeying and following the communicated will of God and living our lives in joyful anticipation and expectation of the kingdom of God or, perishing with and in a world that has abandoned the voice and the word of the Spirit to accept conditions and consequences rather than experience the power and the reality that comes through communion with the Almighty God.

Simply stated, we live with the vision or die in the dream. And you know what they say; when you die in a dream, you never wake up.

Randall Mooney

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