¹⁸  Where there is no vision, the people perish:

Proverbs 29:18 KJV

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech “I have a dream” is one of the most powerful and lasting pieces of oral history. He set forth a vision for the future that was clear and compelling. And we as a nation latched on to the future possibilities and worked until they become more of a reality. I am not saying it is finished by any stretch but that we are farther along is readily seen.

Proverbs 29:18 in the KJV talks about “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Other translations talk about vision as the key to keeping people under the guidance and influence of God’s righteousness. Without a future hope we wander to our own personal desired destinies and not toward God’s and as the KJV says we “perish.” It is like taking a long trip having no way of knowing where we are going or how to get there. We need a map…a vision…to do that for us.

I believe this is why Scripture makes a concerted effort to point us toward Jesus’ return and the New Jerusalem. The day when we lose sight of the temporal nature of today and the eternal nature of tomorrow is the day we begin wandering.

How do we know if we’ve fallen into prioritizing today over eternity? 

When we care more about comfort than growth. 

When the safety and ease of today dominates our thought process and our future planning we have lost hold of God’s vision. I am not saying we shouldn’t plan and work for today. What I AM saying, however,  is that it shouldn’t be so dominant that we lose focus of God’s vision of eternity as our destiny.

Conclusion / Action

I am thankful for the words and vision of Dr. King. I believe they were God-breathed. 

I am also thankful for the words throughout Scripture that help us realize we are moving toward a day when there are no more tears, or death, or mourning, or pain.  A day so filled with God’s light there is no need for a sun or moon. May that vision be the dominant one in which re-order our lives and our communities to work toward. And in so doing, the will of God will be accomplished on earth as it is already in heaven. 

Heaven on earth. Now that sounds like something we could all get excited about!