Run! Baby Run!

 

 

"It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

 

Scripture reading: Galatians 1:1-24

 

In describing the anatomy of a divine vision, the Prophet Habakkuk in Hab. 2:1-4, enumerated pertinent components and stages, each of them critical in the accomplishment of any God-ordained vision on earth. These components are: the preparation period of intense waiting upon God for the vision; the recording of a clear and specific vision; the stage of running with the vision; perseverance and endurance in the pursuit of the vision; and the final manifestation of the vision in the divine 'kairos' of the Lord by faith. These components are inter-dependent and crucial in knowing, understanding and fulfilling one's divine purpose on the earth.

 

Our scripture reading for today describes the secret behind the extraordinary life of Apostle Paul. This was a young man with stellar qualities prior to his encounter with Jesus Christ such as: law school education under Dr. Gamaliel; successful legal practice of prosecuting the early believers; dual citizenship as a Jew and Roman; multilingual; strong orator and debater; highly disciplined and many other remarkable traits. However, on receiving and understanding his divine purpose on earth through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, he ran a race worthy of emulation by all believers. He stated in Gal. 1:15-17, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus." He began the race on a very fast pace and kept the momentum until the very end when he declared in 2Tim. 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

 

After receiving and clearly recording a divine vision, the next stage towards its accomplishment on earth is to run with the vision. This is the phase that many believers have misunderstood and therefore missed in the execution of divine vision. This phase of a divine vision is very active with no place for procrastination and laziness. This is the phase to prepare that business plan, ministerial goals, architectural drawings, extra education in that particular field of endeavor, networking and setting in motion all that would be needed to accomplish that divine vision under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The period of running with the vision is akin to the preparation and storage of extra oil in vessels which differentiated the wise from the foolish virgins. There is an appointed time for the manifestation of every divine vision which is solely under the authority of the Father. The duty of the believer is to run very hard and in line with the vision as he waits expectantly for its manifestation on the earth. All the heroes of faith mentioned in the scriptures ran with their vision and were ready at the 'kairos' moment of God's visitation. Jacob, Joseph, Nehemiah, Ezra, Esther, Elisha, Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ were all ready at the moment of their visitation.

 

There is a phase of running in the anatomy of divine vision. This phase precedes the eventual manifestation of the vision on earth. The meeting point of the natural and supernatural which results in the manifestation of any divine vision occurs in motion and not at rest. Therefore, after you've received and written down that divine vision, the next phase is to 'RUN BABY RUN'! Even if the vision tarries, continue running because it will surely come and will not tarry.

 

Memory verse: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." - Hebrews 12:1

 

 

Rev. Dr. Isaac Paintsil ©