Many Visions, One Reason

From Created to be God's Friend: Lessons from the Life of Abraham by Henry Blackaby:

It is a moment of trembling to realize the Heart of God, but this comes to the one who chooses to let God draw him closer to Himself. Often this will occur in one, while others around him do not know anything at all about the seriousness of the moment with God. But God desires such a relationship, where He can share His Heart. This is the "friend" He is looking for. This is the kind of relationship He is shaping in the one He calls. This one will see farther, see clearer, and see more than others around him. This, too, will often separate him from those around him, especially because of the intensity with God this revelation creates. It is sometimes lonely being a "friend of God"!

This passage comes at such a sweet time. You see, Yufen and I had been celebrating Joyce's birthday, and while sharing about our lives... suddenly I found myself sharing that I had learnt something important about having a vision, especially one given by God himself.

I said,

"I learnt that there is a cost to having a very clear vision and calling from God. The cost is that you may have to walk alone, because others may not be able to understand the vision. You may have to walk the road alone, just like how Abraham had to walk the road of faith alone, and even his own wife and his cousin did not always understand him.

"Or Jesus, for that example... where He was asking His 3 closest disciples to pray together with Him as He was struggling in prayer regarding going to the cross... and the 3 clowns all fell asleep!"

To be honest, I was really startled to find these words coming out of my mouth! Perhaps this was something that was inspired by the Spirit...

Because when I went to Bras Basah the next day to look for a book, I stumbled upon the Blackaby book on Abraham.

And yes, I came across the passage above. It really felt so surprising. It really does seem that God is confirming that revelation regarding what had come out of my mouth on Sunday.

So be careful when you ask for a clearer vision from God. God may mercifully grant that His specific calling for you not be revealed yet... because the price of loneliness, of walking the Via Dolorosa, may not be easy.

I guess this revelation means a lot to me, because, frankly, I feel quite crestfallen a lot of times when quite a lot of brothers and sisters don't seem to register any delight when they hear about someone being saved. Or hearing about God's kingdom being extended and so on.

In fact, they seem much more delighted only when they hear that a person got a raise or a bonus or a promotion... which makes me ask - just where does your treasure really lie then?

An apathetic generation shall live on pathetic rations. But that's not what Jesus has intended for any church or caregroup!

Many visions, one heart, a common love
Well, but pondering... I wondered why is it that some other dear brothers and sisters obviously do not have the same vision or the same passion as me, yet, when they share about their visions for God, I also feel so happy and excited for them?

Like how when Andrew shared his vision for the RP ministry... or Yufen shared her passion to serve God in healthcare... or Peter shared his dream to impact the business and media industry... or Joyce shared her joy at seeing God do miracles in missions... or Huanyan shared his thirst to study the Word of God thoroughly... or Weizhu shared his excitement about cross-generational ministry... or Huaqiang shared his burden to see God honoured by serving Him well in operations ministry... and so on and so forth.

All very different visions, right? But I realised that the shared joy we all have is because of one thing: we all have seen and felt the Heart of God placed over our own hearts. And what is the Heart of God but the Great Commission?

All our different visions spring from one River. As the psalmist puts it so beautifully:

Psalm 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Think of it. The Spirit of God working in each one of us, assigning to each one of us different giftings and talents, just as He determines, as He pleases.

We are many streams with many dreams, but we all flow from the one river of the Great Giver... making glad the city of God.

Many visions, one Reason.

Having the same love
And so, it's in that frame of mind, as Paul put it:

Philippians 2:1-2
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

So it's not the sameness of vision that matters... but the sameness of having a heart for God's kingdom that matters! that unites and delights! that unifies and edifies!

And that's the delight, to realise that you are not alone after all. But such people are quite rare... people who have a common love for Christ and for His church... a common hunger to follow Him and do His will... a common joy when a sinner crosses the line from death to life... a common commitment to loving and strengthening one another, no matter how different we are... and the love just grows and grows and grows.

A Common Love
A common love for each other,
A common gift to the Savior.
A common bond holding us to the Lord.
A common strength when we're weary.
A common hope for tomorrow,
A common joy in the truth of God's Word.

In His family, we can meet each one's needs,
We can light each one's path;
We can bear each one's grief,
As His children we can comfort each care,
We can build each one's faith,
We can work we can share.

In His family, all the love that we show,
All the help that we give,
All the life we bestow;
As His children, they're an off'ring we make,
Not expecting return, just a gift for His sake.

So let's love the same God with the same love. Amen!