Greetings fellow travelers,
Do you know where you are going? Do you know how you are going to get there? Do you know why you are following Jesus and where He is taking you? What is your final destination? What about a vision for your children, family, and your life? What is guiding you? If you have no vision for where you are going, you will never get there. God showed Abraham where He was taking him, so Abraham kept following, even amongst all the odds, and crazy things he had to do. Where would we be if Noah did not have a vision of a coming world flood? I’ll tell you where – we wouldn’t be here. Life as we know it would have ended! God gave Noah divine guidance and wisdom to accomplish what God called him to do. Seeking the Lord and His divine revelation from the scriptures is how we have a successful, satisfying life. Without a vision people perish! Here I believe is the heart of Proverbs 29: “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy” (Proverbs 29:18 NLT) God has given us a plan for life; it is found in His word – “the law” or “Torah” in the Hebrew, which means “teaching”. As Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart, for they will give you a long and satisfying life.” Without God’s word to guide us, people “cast off restraint”, meaning, they run wild cause there are no parameters on their behavior. We need a vision of how to live our lives, and God’s word is it. Follow His word and you will live!
Let’s see how this truth applies to life. If someone hardens their heart to the truth and guidance of the Lord, there is literally no remedy, or way to help them (Prov. 29:1). Whoever refuses correction is destroyed! How sad is that! I’ve seen it far too often in people who have refused to submit to God’s guidance; many have shipwrecked their life, and sadly ended up dead.
There is probably no more clear example of people who “run wild” than in families where parents do not discipline nor correct their children. Children literally run wild. It is the responsibility of the parents to impart “the vision” of the Lord to the child by teaching them what the word of God says and the importance of obeying it. “To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child” (Prov. 29:15 NLT) Fathers! It’s up to you to teach your children how to obey the word of God. “Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul” (Prov. 29:17 NIV). This is an often repeated teaching (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:6; 22:15; 23:13-14; Heb. 12:10-11). “Disciplining” has the idea of instructing using God’s divine guidance, as in “train up a child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:6). A person is never too old to receive instruction from his/her parents: “The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father” (Prov. 29:3).
Leaders who are led by God’s guidance through His word are a blessing to those they lead: “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice” (29:2). We see this in the Bible! Whenever a godly king led the people according to the word of the Lord, the people prospered; when they didn’t, the people suffered – “The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.” (Prov. 29:14 NKJ); “A just king gives stability to his nation” (Prov. 29:4 NLT). We don’t have to look far to see how an unjust ruler brings division to a nation! Would to God that our leaders be led by the Lord’s vision for Canada, so that the current chaos and rebellion would subside. Pray for our leaders! Most of them are led by “the fear of man”, bowing to every special interest group. They lead by the public opinion of a minority, rather than God’s righteous truth for the good of the whole nation. “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” (Prov. 29:25 NLT)
There is another meaning to Proverbs 29:18, which translates like this: “Without prophetic vision people run wild” (God’s Word Translation). The Hebrew word for “vision”- Chazon could mean a literal vision, dream, divine revelation that comes through sight, since the word comes from the word “to see”. In the Bible, it is mainly applied to prophets who get literal visions from God. I do believe that God can and does give literal, visible visions to individuals for accomplishing specific tasks…but, they are always in line with His word. I do believe that God, for example, can give a vision to parents for the future of their child/children. The Bible is full of examples where God gave visions to people to instruct them on specific assignments and tasks. Visions that were misinterpreted have led to all kinds of confusion – many of the world’s religions started with “visions” that were not from God! Visions received should always be verified with others, tested against God’s Word, and discerned with lots of prayer and accountability.
Let me close with this: Spending time in God’s Word and intimacy with Him in prayer will lead to an amazingly fruitful and rewarding life. God will definitely impart His “vision” for your life and your family if you seek Him with your whole heart. Don’t delay – seek Him today!
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