Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10.5)

Vision
Long-term Vision
In a variation on the old saw that asks, “Why does the devil have all the good tunes?”, I proffer, “Why do secularists have all the exciting vision?”

In her article “Unnatural Selection,” New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert describes two conservation projects designed to reverse current trends and restore ocean reefs and American chestnuts (April 18, 2016). The chestnuts were all but wiped out in a previous generation by insect infestation, while reefs around the world are suffering from hotter-than-normal ocean temperatures. Ms. Kolbert describes various projects in the works to arrest degeneration of reefs and chestnuts and to enable these wonders of creation to thrive again.

These are generation-spanning projects, funded and sustained by private foundations and university science departments. The directors of these projects do not believe that the dying condition of reefs and chestnuts is acceptable, and they have undertaken long-term projects of what the author refers to as “assisted evolution” to bolster the chances of species survival. Their vision of restored reefs and forests has captured the imagination and commitment of colleagues, funders, and volunteers alike.

Elsewhere on this same theme, David Brin celebrates the amazing achievements of space exploration during the past year as a rallying cry to encourage humankind to believe in itself again (“2015 Was the Best Year Ever in Space,” Nautilus, January/February 2016). Mr. Brin cites rovers on Mars, a probe to Venus, landing on an asteroid, returning space craft to earth by soft landings, and most of all, the Pluto fly-by as evidence that America’s and the world’s space engineers are as visionary, skilled, and energized as ever, and they’re in hot pursuit of new projects.

Space exploration, Mr. Brin insists, brings the world together. He writes, “Space ultimately has nothing to do with our insipid political metaphors like left and right. It is about becoming the kind of people we want to be. The kind of people who explore, who look outward, who think that tomorrow can be different.”

Space matters because, since we can do so many amazing things in this field, we ought to be encouraged to ask, “If we can do all those things, can’t we solve other problems, as well?”

The power of space to motivate people for other good but difficult projects has been greatly bolstered by the artistry space has provided. We are all familiar with the breath-taking images sent back from Mars, or catalogued by the Hubbell Space Telescope. Capturing the beauty of space has been a part of the vision and achievement of space exploration from the beginning. Mr. Brin insists that an Apollo 8 photograph of the earth, “floating as a blue marble in the vast desert of space...transformed us more than anything else. Perhaps making us better, more responsible citizens, and world managers.”

Space exploration matters, and perhaps most of all because of how it leads us to regard ourselves. The achievements of space programs make us say, “We’re going to change. We’re going to make the future different from the past.”

Space exploration, restoring ocean reefs, and reviving the chestnut forests of America provide powerful vision and frontiers for advocates of a secular agenda. Scientists working in these areas are able to mobilize hundreds of colleagues and volunteers and billions of dollars toward their projects. That kind of enlistment and engagement does not happen without clear and compelling vision, and a demonstrated track record of achievement and incremental progress.

Where are the Christian visionaries and leaders, and the funders, artists, and volunteers to aid them, who can excite today’s Christians to forsake the comfortable benches of our storm-tossed and water-laden ecclesiastical vessels, and lead us out onto the deep waters, where Jesus beckons us from amid the waves? Jesus was the master vision-caster, and He knew how to attach next steps to vision in order to engender response and motivate progress toward the coming of His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

We must not be content for the unbelieving world to command the hearts, imaginations, wealth, and strength of the world. We have a greater, more compelling, more promising and powerful vision – the Kingdom of God – than anything the world can proclaim.

Let us plead with God to raise up visionary leaders who will move the followers of Christ to lay aside everything that hinders us, and to join together in reaching for the fuller realization of this glorious promise.

For reflection
1.  How would you describe your own vision of the life of faith? Of the Kingdom of God, and your place in it? Can you articulate that vision in a way that excites others?

2.  Would you say that your church leaders are visionary? Why or why not?

3.  The greatest threat to exciting, challenging vision is comfort, buttressed by complacency. Explain.

Next steps: Why aren’t Christians any more visionary than we are? Ask a pastor or church leader to help you with this question.

Kingdom vision begins with a clear and compelling vision of Jesus Christ, exalted in glory. Order a copy of our book, The Kingship of Jesus, and begin enlarging your vision of the coming of Christ’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (click here to purchase).

We depend on the Lord for the needs of The Fellowship of Ailbe. This means we come to Him daily, asking for His help in giving us wisdom to know His will, strength and skill to do it, and the resources we require for each day. As for this last, we understand that God intends to support our ministry from within the ranks of those who are served by it (Ps. 20.1-3; Rom. 15.26, 27; Gal. 6.6).

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