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The Patience To Wait for the Vision
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Though it tarries, wait for it . . . —Habakkuk 2:3 |
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| Patience is
not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is
tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of
God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper
inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of
what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had
a vision of God. ". . . he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews
11:27 ). A person who has the vision of
God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to
God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the
inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add
vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give
you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son
experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does
that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see
God. "Though it tarries, wait for it . . . ." The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, "What shall I render to the Lord . . . ? I will take up the cup of salvation . . ." (Psalm 116:12-13 ). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, "Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure." Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . ." ( Philippians 3:12 ). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation. |