VISION THAT TRANSFORMS

What is the year 2008 going to be like for us? Eugene Peterson described our ability to predict the future: "We don't see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist." (I Corinthians 13:12, The Message). The economic and political scene looks chaotic these first few January days. Where's the defroster? That ditch is out there somewhere! We are all driving down this unknown road called 2008. Where are we going? God only knows!

The basic meaning of the word vision is...the ability to see. The Apostle Paul was a visionary man. He saw a vision of the resurrected Christ on the road to a city called Damascus. The sermon text came from the Book of Acts, where Paul retold his story for the third and final recorded time. He shared his key statement, "I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven..." ( Acts 26:19, NIV).

The first idea we see is that Paul had a vision that transformed or radically changed his life. God sees the future clearly...even when we are in a fog. Real vision is a gift from heaven. Seeing clearly provides 'response ability' to make right choices. We can remain in a fog, or we can pray for God's vision. Living in a fog can be risky. Have you ever had to drive your car in a fog? Having great headlights sure helps in a time like that! "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 28:18, KJV). Do I really want a vision from heaven? Am I willing to see what God wants for my life? Paul chose to follow the heavenly vision and allowed God to change his direction.

The second idea is that God's vision will often cost us something. Some of our foggy notions about life have to go. Are we willing to change...friends, schools, jobs, careers, dreams...for God's ideas? Does God really know what will make us happy? Paul thought so...when he said, "I was not disobedient." Paul gave up his plans. Now, Paul could now say that God knew exactly what He was doing from personal experience. Sometimes we settle for some poor choices, just to live in a comfortable fog. Do you want 2008 to be different than last year?

Paul was convinced that God was right. He was on a mission to tell the whole world, one person at a time. How do you hide real joy? I remember when I bought my first car. I remember preparing to graduate from college. I remember falling in love with my wife. It is hard to keep good things secret. I wanted to tell everyone, until friends were tired of hearing it! Vision gives us a life worth talking about.

God sees the future clearly. God sees and knows our hopes and dreams. God knows us better than we know ourselves. The old fog is filled with past mistakes. How bad do you want to see 2008 clearly? Vision is a gift we can ask for. Only God can light up our future to see the road ahead and keep us between the lines. Happy New Year!