info DAY 8 // VISION FOR THE FUTURE
TOM SHORT – AWAKEN CHURCH IN COLUMBUS, OH
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. “
Hebrews 11:8-10
Are you able to “see” into the future?
The great heroes in God’s Faith Hall of Fame found in Hebrews 11 had that capacity to see the unseen. Abraham went forth, not knowing where he was going, for he was looking for a city whose architect and builder is God (vs. 10). Moses rejected the treasures of Egypt and endured hardship with the people of God because he was looking to a future reward (vs. 26). And of course, we run the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2).
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2
People of great faith have the capacity to see the future, visualizing in their mind’s eye what could be instead of being fixated on their current circumstances. Setting your mind, your thoughts, and your expectations on the here and now can lead you into a rut where you make no progress in who you are or what you accomplish. On the other hand, seeing the future potential can get us unstuck, moving forward, with hope of a better tomorrow.
The more precisely you can see and articulate your future vision, the more likely you are to see it realized. It becomes the target at which you aim. Imagine shooting at a target. You don’t just point in the general direction of the target. Rather, you fix your sites on the bullseye and, if you hit it, it was no accident. It was right where you were aiming.
Do you have a future aim for your life? How about for your children? For your spiritual development? Your ministry? Your career? Your family? Have you ever articulated what your future, as a follower of Christ, might look like? Are you leaving it up to chance? Are you allowing others to determine your future? Are you living your life by intentional design headed in the direction God wants you to go, or are you just living by default as you follow the crowd?
It’s been said, “Aim at nothing and you’ll hit it every time.” That’s not how men and women of faith should lead their lives. We aren’t to be passive, tossed back and forth by the ideas of others. We believe that your participation in the Fusion Conference this week will help you define the target and articulate where you should be heading. In short, we hope that each one of us, whether we are just getting started in Christian journey, or are a seasoned veteran far down the path, will discover a vision for our future that will inspire us to give all we’ve got in building God’s kingdom and bringing Him glory.
Are you with us? I hope so! We look forward to seeing you at Fusion. Come prepared – it’s going to be a great week!
