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Without a Vision, There is No Way to Go On
Saved at a young age, I grew up in the local church under the nurturing of my parents. However, in my adulthood I left my love for the Lord and pursued the things of the world. But in His faithfulness, the Lord never let go of me. He lovingly orchestrated circumstances that subdued me and, after ten years, brought me back to Himself.
Although He had sanctified me, I knew there was no capability in me to follow Him faithfully the rest of the way. So, over a period of time, He caused Proverbs 29:18 to become my prayer back to Him: “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.” (or King James’ translation: “Without a vision, Your people will perish.”) He opened up to me His Word in John 17:21: “That they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” I asked Him for the way to go on with Him, and He pointed me to His prayer to the Father, His heart’s desire: that the believers be built into one.
Shortly thereafter, I was led into fellowship with the believers in the local church, and was inspired to experience more and more of this Christ in my spirit. These believers enjoyed the Lord so much, and their appetite for Christ really stirred up my appetite for Him too. However, after six months, I disappeared from this fellowship for about ten months, because in my soul I knew I could not be absolute in my consecration to Christ and the church (Eph. 5:32). But He showed me that He alone is my consecrated Lamb to offer back to the Father. I just need to take and eat of this Lamb, and He will become my meal offering (Lev. 2:1), the only One who is pure (1 John 3:3) and absolute for the Father’s complete satisfaction (Matt. 3:17).
Today, eleven years later, I am still being drawn by Him to run after Him alongside all the other believers (Song of Songs 1:4). Together we are being built up to become His spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5) and dwelling place here on earth (Eph. 2:22) so that we may be adorned and prepared to be His bride (Rev. 21:2). It has been a long but wonderful journey since this ‘prodigal son’ (Luke 15:21-24) was brought home to the Father’s banqueting house. It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but completely of God who shows mercy (Rom. 9:16). It is the greatest blessing to be loved by Him and to be brought into His good pleasure—the building up of His one Body for His testimony today on earth.
J.M.
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