vision

The following was originally written and published in the February edition of our uzine: The Encourager.

A good friend of mine, and a dynamic lay leader here at the U recently shared this quote as an opening to our Pastor Parish Relations Committee meeting. It is taken from Andy Stanley’s book, Visioneering.

"Whenever you attempt to bring about change, it plays on the insecurities of those who have grown accustomed to the way things are and have always been. In this way, a vision is often seen as a threat. Consequently, it is not uncommon for the negative emotions a vision stirs up in people to be unleashed in the form of criticism. What you are convinced 'should be' will be perceived by others as the very thing that 'should not be.'

To make matters worse, the critics appear to be armed with the 'facts.' Often they have history and experience on their side. And understandably so. A vision is about the future, not the past. A vision has no history. And yet history and experience are what gives birth to a vision. It is past experience that makes the visionary discontent with the way things are. It is from an understanding of history that a picture of could be and should be takes shape. It is unfortunate that the fertile soil of history and experience is the very soil often used to bury a vision. The birthplace of a vision can become its burial ground as well."

As I reflect on Stanley’s words, I cannot help but consider how aptly it captures the entire spirit of God’s work in Jesus Christ. In his son, God gave humanity a vision for the future – a glorious picture of things seen and unseen; a picture of hope and new birth; a picture of life and life eternal.

Yet, there were those whose experience precluded them from embracing the magnitude of God’s vision and plan for the future. It was inconceivable that Jesus should bear the sin of humanity, freeing us from the burden of the law. It was beyond the bounds of history to believe that the God-Man should die and rise again, bringing salvation not through a mighty force of arms, but through the self-surrender of a repentant heart.

When Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb, “the birthplace of a vision became its burial ground as well.” Then God turned history upside down when on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where he sat down at God’s mighty right hand. Where human beings are bound by the rigors of time and the turning clock, God is eternal and experiences no such limitations. Where human beings are bound by what they experience and record in their history, God is able to re-author history and make the impossible a glorious reality.

This work in Jesus Christ continues today in his body: the Church. We are no more bound by our history than Jesus was by his death on a cross. Even as he overcame, by his spirit and will, we also overcome. God is giving birth to vision and impossible dreams. What is impossible for man is possible for God.

Our responsibility as a church is to remember our history in such a way that brings forth new visions and new life. Any prayerful reflection on the history of University should yield enormous praise for the supernatural acts of God accomplished through the obedience of a trusting and God fearing people. Again and again, God has birthed new visions among us. He has brought them to fruition through changes that defy experience or tradition.

As we complete construction and open our North Campus, God is once again demonstrating his ability to do the impossible through the sacrificial obedience of people sold out to a vision of expanding Christ’s Kingdom on earth. This should be a season of celebration – a time to thank God for all his work among us.

Likewise, this should be a season of vision-casting. We should be dreaming dreams together of what God will call us to next. The question which should be on our lips this next year isn’t “what have we done,” rather, “what are we called to do?” Let us be a people who celebrate God’s work in our history while eagerly anticipating the glorious changes he is longing to work in our future.