The phrase “20/20 vision” refers to normal vision. “A person with 20/20 vision can see what an average individual can see on an eye chart when they are standing 20 feet away,”
We all have a choice in life of the visions God gave us. We have Vision that is provided to us through the sight of our own eyes, our earthly lenses. We are also provided Vision though the Word of God our Spiritual lenses.
Every human being has spiritual eyes. God gave them to us so that we could apprehend the spiritual realities of life. Sadly, those who have not trusted Christ are completely blind spiritually. For the purpose of this text I am going to focus on a Biblical Visionary that used the lens of God; The Apostle Paul.
The Apostle Paul was a tremendous visionary, full of passion, and pursued his vision no matter the cost.
One day, Paul was on a mission to bring to prison all who would dare to follow Jesus Christ. While on the way, he had an encounter with God, face-to-face that changed his course forever. In reality what happened was mind boggling, and one could only reason it was God who brought about this sudden change. Paul went from one side of the spectrum to the opposite side; he would now become the persecuted rather than the persecutor – The book of Acts, Chapter 9 shares about the encounters of Paul.
Paul had every right to utilize his own vision, his earthly vision, his gut feelings. But a new path was now charted for Paul, and he would have to count the cost of this call. He would have to decide if he would die for the cause of Christ. He knew of the opposition unleashed against the church of Christ. He was present at the stoning of an innocent follower of Jesus, named Stephen. Paul was no stranger to the torment, pain, and persecution that awaited those who would dare associate with Jesus and his teachings.
Nevertheless, Paul counted the cost and set out to start a new race--one that would change the course of the Gentile world. Even though Paul was a Jew, he had a more significant impact on the Gentile nations, and he traveled extensively planting churches and feeding the body of Christ with wisdom from the Holy Spirit. Today, two-thirds of the New Testament is written by the Apostle Paul because he counted the cost.
Paul depended on the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction every step of the way. The Holy Spirit (VISION) would reveal to him the persecutions he would face, the imprisonments, the beatings, the public humiliation, the loneliness, and even his death. With all that he faced, he kept Jesus before him, and the will of the Father to make disciples of all men.
Paul could have chosen the life of the persecutor to gain status, position, and wealth, but would have spent his eternity in torment. After counting the cost, he chose not to gamble away eternity and headed to the starting line of the call that would cost him everything.
This sounds so familiar to me as we have a Pastor, Sheppard, Leader in the Lord that gave up everything to lead the charge to bringing lost souls to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pastor Calvin Duncan gave up millions to continue to save the lost; he traded in Jordan for Jesus. We can never take for granted the VISIONARY we have under our own roof. Just look at what is happening with the men at FFC. AMAZING!!! And the best is yet to come in 2020
As I reflect on the story of Apostle Paul and his obedience to doing to the Lord’s Will, I can again only reflect on Faith and Family Church.
“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,”
Acts 7:54-55 NKJV
There is a Clear and Identified Vision for FFC and it is my prayer we all begin seeing it through the Lens of the Holy Spirit.
I want to encourage you today to meditate on the life of Paul and weigh the choices before you. Count the cost on both ends of the spectrum and see God move in and infuse you with strength as you chose his will!
“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 20:22-24 NKJV