CATCH THE VISION! Those are the words that came to me as I was doing my devotions the other morning. I was spending some time thinking about the power and sovereignty of God. In no way, on no level, by no means, at no time does He require the help of man. But He does desire our labors. The simple fact He created human beings affirms it. We reason. We love. We learn. We are made in His very image --according to the Bible, the only created beings that are. But for what purpose? I mean, look around, this world is pretty chaotic. If He has enlisted our elbow grease, He must be pretty desperate or there must be a greater vision. Well, He's not desperate, I can tell you that.
Years ago, my mother began collecting ceramic Christmas decorations, all sorts of Victorian houses and shops. There were even little scenes: a group of carolers gathered 'round a lamppost, genteel ladies in fur-trimmed coats skimming their way across a frozen pond. Each year, Mom carefully set up her tiny village, a display limited only by her imagination (and her budget). Even as Christmas after Christmas passed, and Mom's village grew in size, even as it became a chore to unpack, arrange, repack, and store her imaginary domain, Mom loved doing it. She'd plan where each building would stand, draped snow and dotted shrubbery throughout the streets. She placed flocked Christmas trees exactly where she'd envisioned. A perfect little world unfolded just as she imagined. But for all her hobbyist acumen, Mom could never establish a real relationship with her citizens. They had no breath, no will, no reason, and no spirit. The only vision was hers, evolving just as she dictated, as she staged it.
But the God of the Bible, true, living, faithful, just, almighty, the God who created earth and all life, who came to this place as one of His very own creation --think about that for a minute! --who died in our stead for the choices we have made and continue to make with the will He so boldly gave us, this God designed humanity for His glory as we engage in relationship with Him. That was and remains His vision. A greater vision. A vision that doesn't always look as we would like it to look or transpire as we would like it to transpire; but if we place our lives --the very lives He gave us --under His authority and His protection, we can trust the vision will come to be in a glorious way. He is not some evil dictator laughing maniacally as he destroys the lives of his subjects in a bid to rule it all. Human history tells us that never works. He is Creator, Life-Giver, the only just and orderly King who came to earth in a tiny town, under lowly circumstances to bring to fruition a plan of redemption for all of creation. And He has invited us in to bring Him glory, to do His will, to invite others in, to make His creation better, to spread His love, and to enjoy the glorious benefits of His kingdom here on earth until we one day experience His full benevolence and glory in heaven.
Do you see it? Can you catch the vision?
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