VISION. (Road Signs Part 2)

Last week I made my first post about the Road Signs series we are doing as a youth group. I had the opportunity to talk about the path principle, which is simply this: Our direction determines our destination. In pondering, praying, and pontificating on this topic a single word came into my mind over and over again: VISION. I think the reason that I and so many other people in life get on the wrong road, or miss a road sign, is because we forget about our vision--or we simply do not have a vision at all.

Andy Stanley defined vision like this: "Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be." This is from his book Visioneering which you all should read if you have not. This principle applies to businesses, families, personal goals, and especially our Christian lives. In order to live and grow in a certain direction we have to have vision. We have to constantly ask ourselves--what is the vision that God has given me for life? We should spend all our energy finding that vision--and then NEVER forget it.

Stanley outlines two main points that every vision should have. First, the vision should come from a deep conviction. This conviction is birthed from our dissatisfaction with something and a desire to see it changed. Second, the vision should line up with what God is doing in the world. One of my friends would term it like this: "We need to connect with the movement of God." What is God doing in our community, in our family, in our hearts and where do we need to jump on board?

The main point in our Road Signs message this week is "when you see a warning sign, turn around." I think this principal is inherently linked with our own personal vision that comes from God. If we don't have a conviction about what God is doing in our lives, how will we ever know if we are going the wrong way? If we have not studied the Scriptures deeply and learned to love them, how will we ever know God's heart for the world in which we live--not to mention his personal plan for each of us? If we have not been driven to our knees by what God did for us on the cross--how will we ever change the world for Jesus? These are questions we must ask ourselves if we really want to align ourselves with God's vision, God's purpose for the world in which we live.

Too many of us go through life lacking a vision--missing the road signs that God puts in front of us. I see so many students walk through life simply wanting to have "fun." Don't get me wrong--I'm all for fun, we need to laugh and connect with people--that is part of God's plan. HOWEVER, when our desire to have fun becomes our vision we will never get anywhere in life. And, sadly, we will never do anything really great for God. Too many of us, myself included, have wasted portions of our lives because we have not pursued our vision. Or, maybe we have a vision but we have ignored the warning signs that popped up when we walked down the wrong path.

I don't know about you--but I don't want to waste my life. I don't want to want to wake up when I am 65 and getting ready to retire and ask the question: "What have I been doing with my life?" I want to come before my God and have him say "well done." Our path, our direction is different for each of us. To discover that path we need vision--a vision that comes from our great God. Don't waste your life. Discover God's vision for you. If you see a warning sign, turn around and head back to the path--because the great thing about our God is that he is a God of Mercy and Grace. Even that truth should shape our vision.

Our direction--our vision--determines our destination.