Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

—
BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
their expression whilst we maintain the truth which has been
revealed to us, and for which we stand. "Missions" (Home
University Library).
VISION
906. Twenty-six centuries ago Solomon wrote : "Where
there
is no vision, the people perish" (Prov. 29: 18). History endorses
that utterance. A visionless people are a dying people. Upon
the church or Bible-school edifices wherein assemble visionless
workers one might truthfully paint "Ichabod," for they have
allied themselves with a dying race.
Some visions break up, like castles in the air, for they are
simply the figments of one's own imagination ; but not so the
visions of prophets of old, who peered down the vista of time,
and saw things which were actually to come. Visions also
occupy a large place in New Testament history. When the
seventy chosen disciples returned with the joyful tidings that
the very devils had been subject to them, Jesus saw a vision,
and probably thought of that time when Satan and his mighty
host shall be utterly vanquished, and He exclaimed : "I beheld
Satan fallen as lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18). When
John, on Patmos isle, was spectator of the panoramic view of
future triumphs recorded in the Book of Revelation, he beheld
a countless multitude, clothed in white robes, and with palms in
their hands, and heard them singing : "Salvation unto our God
which sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9, 10).
So, at the back of each great achievement there must be a vision,
and both the world and church owe everything worth while to
seers of visions.
But mere visions will do nothing. We must not be unpractical
dreamers. Visions are a means to an end, and not the end
itself. Our visions must actualise, or they are useless. Care
should be taken that we be "not disobedient unto the heavenly
vision" (Acts 26: 19). We must see, and then obey. Beholding
a glorious vision of regenerated humanity, we should press
forward in the divine work till the vision becomes translated
into an actuality.
907. The place of vision is at the cross. It is the focal point
of faith, the pivotal place of hope, and the central apex of divine
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