Thelemic Planning

Seeing with the Eyes of Faith

by Walt Brock

Vision is essential. Or is it? No matter what you read or to whom you listen, everyone says you must have it to be successful! I don’t know about you, but I always wondered what vision was and why everyone was always making such a big deal about it. I was too busy surviving and trying to take the next step to worry about what the business community called “vision.” Besides, no one seemed to be able to come up with a good definition, and there was no consensus on how to acquire such an elusive quality. But if I believed what I was reading, I was doomed without it.

The reason I was so busy trying to take the next step was that I had in my mind’s eye a sense of what God’s will was for me to do. I was doing that long before I put two and two together and called it “vision.” Nehemiah recognized what God had put in his heart to do (Neh 2:12), and he set out to take whatever steps were necessary to accomplish the goal. In much the same way, that was what I was doing—endeavoring to do God’s will one step at a time. So, I came to the conclusion that I could read all I wanted about vision from a secular viewpoint (and I did find some of the material helpful); but when it came right down to it, all I had as a Christian was a bottom-line conviction that I was doing what God wanted me to do—in God’s time and in God’s way. That meant that I did some things that would not make sense to others, both Christians and unbelievers. But I had to do God’s will no matter what others thought.

I gained great solace from studying the passage in 2 Kings 6 where Elisha prayed that the eyes of his servant would be opened to the power and protection of the Lord around them. I came to understand that some people see only the physical aspect, but it was possible with the eyes of faith to see what they do not see. Discerning God’s will and direction and being willing to work toward that goal with one’s whole life, seeing what others cannot see—that is what I have come to believe is the essence of vision.

When I was young and beginning a ministry from scratch, I had the same vision for Ironwood that I have now. At the start of this venture, I would describe to people what I believed God would do here in the desert, but there was no tangible evidence that it could possibly happen. I’m sure they went away saying, “Boy, that young man is sure a dreamer; I wonder when he will wake up and where he’ll be when he starts to do something sensible.” Currently, because of the tangible evidences of God’s provision and working over the years, they are more likely to say, “What a man of vision! What can we do to help?”

Whenever I hear those words, I am tempted to say, “Where were you thirty years ago?” I’m tempted to think that if they had helped this much thirty years ago, I would have had the energy to get so much more done with what they gave. The trap is to think that God is at work more today than He was then. We must see all of these things with the eyes of faith; the Bible tells us God is always at work, always all-knowing, always all-powerful, and always on time! Vision is not only seeing the big mountain out in front that requires a lifetime commitment to climb, but vision also sees the next step on the trail of progress toward that goal. Sometimes it seemed I was going backwards, but those were times of learning and personal development of more faith: God knew the trail ahead would take more faith than I then possessed. I have learned to be content with God’s timing and provision but not complacent with His will for my life’s work.

Today I struggle with issues that would have blown me away thirty years ago. As I look back on those days, I see that I have the same struggles now that I had then—the amounts and volume are just different. Doubt will sometimes ask the question found in Psalm 78:19, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” The struggle to respond with “Yes, He can!” is always there. Our struggle today is to keep on walking up the trail by faith “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7) and not to faint before we get to the top of God’s will, “for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal 6:9). This process is as much for our spiritual growth as it is for the growth of the ministry. As Elijah learned at the brook Cherith, we can learn and grow by being willing to sit by a brook for months, depending upon God for even our daily food (no credit cards), while watching the brook go drier day by day, yet by faith believing God will provide in His way and in His time.

In this third article in a series on “thelemic” planning in God’s will, you will understand the place of vision if you will review the triangle in Issue 6, page 10. Notice that vision comes after our biblical foundation and provides direction toward accomplishing God’s high calling for us. It comes after the biblical foundation, for everything must be consistent with and in obedience to the Word of God. As we deal in future articles with the next steps of a philosophy of ministry and a purpose or mission statement, you will see how they are totally dependent on vision as we have defined it. Let me share with you a few lessons I have learned about vision:

1. Vision gives direction, not directions. Its instrument is a compass, not a calendar or clock.
2. Vision requires someone to commit everything, stick his neck on the line, burn his bridges, and never turn back.
3. Vision requires a life-work view; it is generational in nature.
4. Vision requires, for the Christian, a definite spiritual aspect.

• It must be doctrinally correct.
• It must be a part of, fit in with, or serve the local church.
• It must accomplish God’s goal, regardless of what it is, to glorify Himself.
• It must reach, serve, or edify people, because God so loved the world that He gave His Son.
• It must be evidenced by seeing with the eyes of faith and walking thereby.

5. Simply stated, vision is seeing what lies ahead.
6. Vision, communicated properly, should inspire others to greater sacrifice by giving them an eternal target at which to aim.
7. Vision, on the other hand, cannot be advertised as a done deal; doing so will only lead to discouragement and distrust.
8. Vision should evidence a sense of the times and the cultural context of the ministry and should convey a clear sense of urgency today.
9. Vision should communicate how tomorrow will be different because of the change that will occur with the implementation of the vision.
10. Vision should give a clear testimony of what God has already done—in you, through provision, and in moving others.

Vision should state the real reason for your existence; it should help turn your work into a calling—into a way of life. It will be something you will be willing to spend the rest of your life to accomplish, whether or not you get anyone to help you or whether or not you see any great progress. How do you get a vision for your ministry? You see with the eyes of faith!