Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

(Psalm 119:105)

Building With Vision

Living with vision means thinking past your 20s. And your 30s, for that matter. It means looking at what you see around you, with all of its flaws and annoyances; and rather than despairing, or planning to abandon ship, you envisage what God could accomplish through you, your family, and your church in a generation or two.

This is the light-to-my-path portion of the Psalm: God’s word lights up the future. His word says that the Hunter Valley doesn’t have to look the way it does now. Under the blessing of God, it can be filled with Christians who love the Lord, who build churches, who own Cafes, who run farms, who start schools, who grow families.

One Brick at a Time

This vision won’t be brought about by talking. It certainly won’t come about by lusting for what we do not have. Lust turns creational goods into idols by positing that “If only I could get that thing, or go to that place, or work in that job, then I’d be happy.” This simply isn’t true. To think this way is to elevate a finite part of creation (work, object, person, location) to the level of God, Who alone can truly satisfy. A vision itself is not lustful; but you must disconnect your day-to-day joy from the attainment of the vision. You must live each day in plodding faithfulness. Do what’s next. Do what’s in front of you.

This is the lamp-to-my-feet portion of the Psalm: God’s word gives a pool of light around your toes so you know the next step to take.

But notice that there is no light for that murky middle section in between your feet and the path ahead. God doesn’t light up tomorrow, or next week. In fact, he says “don’t worry about tomorrow, it’ll take care of itself” (Matt 6:34). What he gives you is a vision for the future and your next step.

So take the next step, envisage where it’s leading you, and don’t worry about tomorrow.