Focus: Fresh Vision

Text: Ezk.1:1

"The heavens were opened, and I SAW visions of God."

Ezekiel saw visions of God under an open heaven. In 2Chron.26:5, we read that Uzziah "sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had UNDERSTANDING in the visions of God." It is not enough to SEE visions; we also need to UNDERSTAND visions. Understanding means gaining insight into the visions or having clarity of vision for accuracy of obedience. Vision provides direction and guides you on a path or a line of actions to take in order to achieve a good end or worthy goal. Fresh vision of God is incredibly revitalizing.

In Isaiah 6 we have three-dimensional vision of God - upward vision, inward vision, and outward vision.

*First is the upward vision

Verse 1 says, "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." This is a fundamental vision - seeing God for yourself. God wants to reveal Himself to you. He wants you to have a good look at the God you worship and see Him for who or what He is. God is saying to you, 'Look at me! Have a true knowledge of Me.'

By the upward vision you are enabled to catch a glimpse of God's gravity and grandeur, and of His loveliness and loftiness. You begin the year by knowing who occupies the throne of the universe and of who is really in charge of everything transcendent and immanent.

You need to see that your God is high and lifted up beyond the reach of all creatures.

Open heaven is a necessity for success in the earth realm. There is a throne in heaven where decisions are taken for life on earth. You need open heaven and eyes to see what is going on there. You need to see God seated on His throne and being in total control of all things in the universe. You need to see God's infinite greatness and absolute authority. Behold the sovereign God who rules in heaven and overrules the affairs of mankind.

You need the Bible to see God. The psalmist prays, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law" (Ps.119:18). 

You need to connect with the Holy Spirit, the revealer of Christ and the teacher of truth. You need to set aside quality time to pray and seek the face of God.

You need to have your whole being illuminated with the light of God's word and warmed up with the heat of God's Spirit. You need to frequently wait on God. The vision of heaven puts power in your soul to function effectively here on earth. Heaven and earth must connect and collaborate in your life.

*The inward vision

Verse 6 says, "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." Isaiah saw God, and now he sees himself. This is the inward vision. It comes as the effect of the upward vision. Isaiah is able to see himself as he should because his "eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." Knowing oneself is the outcome of knowing God. Look at God, and then look at yourself. This is the place of separation from sin and consecration to God. By seeing God for what He is, you begin to have an idea of who you are created to reflect. No one is cleansed from sin until he encounters the awesomeness and holiness of God. It is by encountering the holiness of God that we can see the sinfulness of sin, and we cannot abhor what we adore. The power of God flows forcefully through purified vessels.

*The outward vision

Verse 8 says, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." This is the outward vision. See God; see yourself; and then, see a needy world - a world in need of your help. Don't only know God and yourself; you need to know others. Think and see beyond you, for as they say, a world just your size is too small a world to live in. 

This year, look at the world around you, for God has a job for you there.

Isaiah said, "I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips." That is the world in which you live. Unclean people are everywhere. People who talk trash and people who talk before they think.

The outward vision means seeing what God sees as needs and partnering with Him to meeting the needs. It is seeing what God sees and joining Him in what He is doing. It is knowing and doing the will of God. It is making yourself available and accessible, and useful to God. It is having a common vision with God, and also, collaborating and participating in God's business. It is agreeing and signing to play a role in God's plan.

Look around you and see that there is business for you to do for the Lord. God wants you to give yourself to His enterprise. Give your talent, time and treasure for the advancement of God's cause. Jesus says, "I must be about my Father's business." It is making God's business your personal business, and seeing to it that it is successfully done. Focus on achieving something for God this year. Don't live for yourself.

This three-fold vision is essential for a fruitful and fulfilling life.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter