Maintain Vision in the Storm

The goal of Jesus Christ is to change lives. The mission of the church is to change lives. The call on every Christian is to change lives. Rom 12:2 The Christian life is about change.  John 16:33 says, ”In Jesus we have peace. He has overcome the world.” But I’m in the rotten here and now. Read Isaiah 43:1-2 Galatians 3:26 My inheritance as a son of God. Matt Flynn of the Green Bay Packers is Aaron Rogers’s backup. In the 2011 Superbowl he never set foot on the field, but what does he wear on his finger: a Superbowl champion ring. Even the benchwarmer still takes credit, still gets the ring. We are on the same team as Jesus. 1John 2:13 I am an overcomer in Christ.

 Storms should not define who we are. How will I respond? Will my decisions, my choices take me higher or take me in a downward spiral? The Bible cannot change you (but as you take action to implement what it says, you will be changed). It is the book of hope, it gives you a vision, a dream and then we must step up to exercise our faith to see that dream come to pass.

 I need vision in the storm. In Mark 4 the disciples in the boat were afraid of the storm because they lost their vision of reaching the other side.. In Matt 14 Peter walks on water until his eyes move off of Jesus and onto the circumstances. If I can’t see it, I can’t seize it. Heb 11:1 tells us hope is that vision of the future that allows our faith to rise up and move toward it. Without hope, my faith has nothing to work with. Prov. 29:18 says, “Without vision, people stumble around.” What do you see? In Acts 20:22-24 Paul was faced with persecution and death but he said, “None of these things move me.” because he had a greater vision, a greater hope. I hate driving in the fog. Why? Limited vision. Does your life seem pointless and futile? You need a vision, a hope. If I look at the waves I lose direction. “If I have no hope for the future, I have no power for the present.” John 12:46 says that Jesus is the light of the world to give us vision for the path we must walk.

 Mat 6:22-23 says that if the eye is good, my life is full of light. I will always follow the dominant vision in my life. Luke 4:18 tells us Jesus came to give recovery of sight to the blind. Heb 12:2 says ”For the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross.” He had a vision of salvation for mankind that carried Him through the suffering and shame.

 Vision comes with renewal of our thoughts. Read Prov. 4:5-6 We don’t need a miracle to turn our life around, we need wisdom. What am I doing today to have a different tomorrow? Just pray and wish? No, read, study, learn. How do I improve at pushups? By doing pushups. Read to improve your reading skill. Prov. 1:5 says ”A wise man will hear and increase in learning.” We will invest in what we see as valuable. God sees you as valuable, He invested His Son for you. Invest in yourself.

 Why does someone spend hours on the basketball court practicing free throws? A dream of the NBA. Why does someone drop out of high school? Lack of vision and hope. Catch the vision. What do you see when your eyes are closed? What do you see in your future? One year, five years, 20 years. What direction is your vision taking you? Habakkuk 2:2 “Write the vision, make it plain.” Here is the challenge: write your vision for all aspects of your life: physical, spiritual, relational, work and ministry.

God has given you a vision, a hope, an expectation, a dream. Let’s get our faith in action to see that come to pass.

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