The story is told of an old Indian Chief who had three sons, decided to give his property to the son who showed the most powers. He told the three that they should bring back from the rugged western mountain a token to show him how far they had climbed. The oldest boy was gone a long time and at length returned bearing in his hand a rare white flower which the father recognized as coming from far above the timber line. The second boy was gone still longer and returned bearing in his hand a piece of red flint stone which the father knew came from close to the top of the mountain. The younger boy was gone still longer and last returned empty handed. The father exclaimed, "My son, where is your token?" The boy replied, "Father where I got to there was nothing loose that I could bring back, but I did stand on top of the mountain and looked and saw where the two rivers joined the ocean." The proud father exclaimed, "My boy, it has been the ambition of my life that one of my boys would see what you have seen. You have nothing in your hand, but you have a greater thing, a vision in your soul."

Someone has defined vision as an expanse of spiritual truth which becomes a moral power. It means inspiration and illumination from above, needed for life in this world. This Old Testament proverb expresses something of the native’s experience. There were times when Israel enjoyed brighter and more fruitful days, when prophecy counted for much in elevating the nation to great heights. She had gone through dreary years when there seemed to be no great inspired personality to show the purpose and will of God. There were times when the prophecy was dead, at least there was no spiritual fire in their message. The result of Israel’s experience is given expression in the language of the text.

At this hour I can think of nothing that men and women need so much as vision. No one can dispute the fact that every move which has been made to better and enrich mankind has had its origin with men and women of vision. Without them we would not have all the institutions and organizations that have functioned for the welfare of mankind. In every generation there have been those strong, stalwart people of vision who have looked beyond the sphere of selfish interest to that broader horizon of unselfish devotions to others. As we read history we discover that the salt of individual and national life all thru the centuries has been a vision of God. Men and women who have done the most for the world’s uplift are those who have had a firm grip of God, they stand out as giants and are the mainstay of our civilization.

Without changing the meaning of the text we could make it read, Where there is no religious faith, the people perish. That is what it amounts to. For it is a vision and a faith of the imperishable and unshaken things that go to make up for stability of life.

During the war years, an anxious Christian expressed the fear, wondering if Christianity would survive this horrible war with all the depression and cynicism that will follow. The record of Christianity has been such that we know it will survive. It needs no greenhouse protection. This faith of ours was first born amidst strife in war torn Palestine, and in every time of strife it remains not only unshaken, but it climbs to greater heights. Thus we are able to read, "By faith Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, Samuel and the prophets." For example, Habakkuk, whose faith is shown in his words, "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall the fruit be in the vine, the labour of the olives shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

This explains the stability of life and purpose of the heroes in the Hebrew hall of faith. Well we might also say, "By faith Peter, Paul, and the John Browns and Mary Smiths of our day. Because of faith there are always those things that remain in any crisis of Christian life.

So Robert Stevenson bearing a fever on the morning of his death was able to say, "The morning returns with its duties, help us to play the man; let cheerfulness abound with this industry."

So Luther when confronted by his accusers could say, "Here stand I, I can do no other."

So Knox and Wesley brought courage to a people in despair, because of their faith, and a sense of release to men and women victimized by sin.

And in our day this faith has its abode in the souls of all men and women who are endeavouring to establish an organic structure of personal relationships, in whose principles the fatherly rule of God is acknowledged, and in whose common life the Divine presence is found.

Raphael, the great artist, was once asked how he came to produce such wonderful paintings. He replied, "I dream dreams and I paint them."

Behind every great achievement in the world, whether it be a painting, a bridge, a symphony, a reform or a revolution, there is a dream or vision.

Dreams or visions, intangible as they may seem, are the most tremendous and moving realities in the world.

There once was a little man who had a vision on a dusty road in Palestine. All the days of his life he clung to this vision despite scourging, hatred and persecution. His vision even brought him to prison and death. But it stimulated a movement which was ultimately to break the mighty Roman Empire.

John Wesley was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but under the power of God, made the dream come true. He set England ablaze by the preaching of the Word, and started on foot a movement for personal evangelism and social reform which is by no means yet exhausted.

For many years, Cecil Rhodes cherished a dream of a union of all English speaking peoples under one organization. He reduced his dream to writing and carried the paper in his pocket. When worn by the petty details of his daily task, he would take it out and refresh himself with the splendour of his cherished hope.

God grant that we in the every centre of our thoughts ever fresh and vivid may carry the vision of that kingdom of our Lord, which is yet to unite all people everywhere in holy brotherhood of love and service.

The Bible from start to finish is inspired with a world vision; it is energized with a world purpose, and it marches to a world goal. It shows the greatest example of a man of vision that the world has ever known. The vision which took him to the cross, caused nails to be driven into his hands and feet; yet his vision was so dominant that it was not made the least obscure by anything he had to endure. We get an echoing of this in the lesson we read. Jesus was on his last journey going up from Jericho to the Holy City. He knew what awaited him. He knew that it was his last journey and at the end of the road he would find the cross. The record reads that he set his face to go to Jerusalem. As we read that, we can see Jesus with his face set seeing through the invisible, moving on alone; his disciples falling back, amazed, startled, terrified, scared to death, but Jesus moves on striding up the highway, moving on steadfastly, going forward to Jerusalem.

As he moves on along he seems to view his lingering, hesitant disciples and as if to beckon them onward he says, "Come we are going to Jerusalem."

Dr. Sandy says he went to his Crucifixion like a King going to his Coronation."

Other men have faced death in high courage, but here we see Jesus courting it, captain of his fate, Master of soul moving on in the way of God’s will, with no fear in his heart, but in high courage that all is well!

The greatest organization to arise as a result of vision is his church. Yet it can readily be seen that the church needs in some measure to recapture the vision of its Master. It needs the daring enthusiasm of the early Christians who were willing to risk all in their great plunge and venture for their Lord and Master. We need to catch something of the vision splendid, in order to set aside denominational emphasis, and have co-operation instead of competition. We need vision enough so that in smaller places instead of a ½ dozen dying churches competing with one another, we would have one or two churches uniting the Christian life of the Town.

Shall some such vision be realized?

Upon the answer depends in a large measure the future influence of the Christian Church. After all, the barriers that exist between the churches are very superficial. That has been made apparent during the past few years. A good example of this is found in the incident which occurred on February 3, 1943, when the cargo transport ‘Dorchester’ was torpedoed and sunk in icy waters ninety miles off the coast of Greenland. As she went down, four chaplains: one Roman Catholic, one Jew, and two Protestants were on the deck, encouraging the people and passing out life belts. When there were no life belts remaining, they took off their own and gave them away. These chaplains were last seen standing arm-in-arm praying. As they went to their death, united in the common service of their Lord - So let us, members of the one great religious faith they represent, go forward – shoulder to shoulder as a united army, fighting evil, establishing righteousness, brothers in the service, sons of one God and Father of us all.

To do that, we must have a Vision.

Where can we find the vision which will enable us to measure to the full stature of this requirement? The answer is Jesus Christ. For above all, he was a visionary. Here is the source of life and vision for you and for me.

We must learn to cultivate the secret of his presence. We must learn to live with the pure radiance of his glory streaming in upon us, so that these dull, dim little lives of ours may catch a vision of what we may yet be by the grace of God and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Horatius Bonar possess something of this vision as he penned the beautiful lines of the closing stanza of his hymn, "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say":

Herein lies the vision splendid, and where that vision is not, the people perish.

Rev. John S. H. Moran, BA
1916 - 1989