Vision to Reality

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 15, 2017

So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark… Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Genesis 6:13-14, 22

It takes time for a vision to become a reality. I experienced this on a recent anniversary trip. The beach resort we enjoyed has been under construction since 2006 and many years later is only half completed. The original developers envisioned the transformation of a raw piece of earth into an environmentally friendly destination to enjoy God’s creation. The rocky, hillside community comes alive with architecture native to the region. The pastel tints of the beach front homes are a canvas for the sunset’s pink and purple hues. A vision beautiful to behold takes time.

God had a fresh vision for His people. Disturbed by their violent and disobedient behavior, the Lord drafted Noah to be the project manager over a new idea yet to be experienced by humanity. It was a God-sized vision that took two generations to fulfill. Noah was already a righteous man who walked with the Lord. He had been faithful with the everyday matters of life, so now he was called to build a safe haven for his family to persevere through God’s coming judgment. The reality of a vision is built over time by faithful followers. Faith works and walks with God.

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

The vision of a mature marriage is defined at the wedding but is built over years of serving, forgiving and loving. The vision of having a child starts at conception but is built over decades of parenting. The vision of a work culture that is relational, respectful and profitable starts with energy and enthusiasm, but is built one engaged employee at a time. The vision of a church that loves and obeys Christ grows into a grace filled reality by Bible teaching, worship, prayer, service, and missions. Vision is what can be–reality is what is–so, keep building a life for God.

Vision is hard. If we quit in fear or fatigue we may miss out on the fruit of faithfulness. Obstacles will come and the vision may morph into a different outcome. Regardless, stay in the process: trust and obey. Better to thoroughly build one thing than bounce around ending with only fragments of incomplete work. In one sense the work is never done. In another sense, our work will be done. Remain faithful in the ordinary so you are qualified for the extraordinary. Stay the course in your faith, family, and career. What you build with and for the Lord will outlast you.

“The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation” (Genesis 7:1).

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