Where Does Vision Come From?
Vision is something that gets talked about a lot in organizations, and businesses, and certainly churches. But where does it come from? Specifically, where does a godly vision come from? Someone has suggested that a godly vision is something that is forged in the fires of holy discontent. We believe this is true. But what is holy discontent? It is when we look around and say… “there’s gotta be something more. This is not all that God wants… he wants more for us.” For many of us, this is our experience of church and of the Christian life.
But for something to truly be a godly vision, we don’t get stuck being discontent. We don’t define ourselves by what we are not, or become disgruntled and cynical. Instead, we allow those fires of holy discontent to birth in us a passion for something more. And we set out in pursuit of it, in the power and leading of God’s Spirit.
At King of Kings, we have sensed God calling us to more. We believe He’s inviting us “further up and further in.”[1] We believe He wants to give us a deeper experience of life in Him.
Our Vision
“We seek to live life in Christ to the fullest.”
The best way to explain our vision is to look at its different parts.
“WE SEEK…”
“To live life in Christ to the fullest” is our goal. It’s what we strive for. But we fall short of it. Often, our experience of life feels a lot more struggle, futility, and sometimes even death. But, in faith, we keep seeking “to live life in Christ to the fullest.” The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians 3:12 “not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” We press on, we keep seeking to realize this vision God has given us.
“TO LIVE…”
“Life in Christ to the fullest” is a gift that’s been given us. We didn’t earn it. We didn’t make it happen. We simply received it by grace, through faith. But now, having received it, our proper response is to LIVE IT. And by “LIVE” we mean that we are working out “life in Christ to the fullest” in every aspect of our lives. It’s not something that we compartmentalize into just one aspect of our lives. It’s not just the ‘church thing’ that we do on Sundays and once or twice during the week. “Life in Christ to the fullest” should spill over into every area of our lives! God wants every part of our lives to be filled with His life.
“LIFE…”
“Life” is a thoroughly biblical concept. The word is everywhere in the scriptures. It is often used to describe, not just biological life, but the essence of what God wants for us, and what he’s calling us to. One powerful verse about ‘life’ is found in Deuteronomy 30:19: “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” God wants us to choose life in Him. And when we do, He is glorified. St. Irenaeus said it this way about 1800 hundred years ago: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” When men and women receive and live out “life in Christ to the fullest,” God is glorified.
“IN CHRIST…”
The whole world is seeking life, not just Christians. We may call it happiness, health, or contentment. But people want life. That’s what everyone’s after. But too often, we look for it in the wrong places. We believe that the only place where true and unending life is found… is ‘in Christ.’ We are a Christ-centered people because we know that there’s no other place to go. He, alone, has the words of life. He alone can satisfy our deepest longings.
This little phrase “in Christ” is theologically loaded. The Apostle Paul uses it over a hundred times in his letters. According to St. Paul, our salvation (Rom 8:1), our freedom (Ga1 2:4), our hope (1 Cor 15:19), the love of God (Rom 8:39), the place where we are made alive (1 Cor 15:22), and the promise of life (2 Tim 1:1) are all found ‘in Christ.’ Being ‘in Christ’ is one of St. Paul’s favorite ways to describe the mysterious transformation that has taken place in the lives of believers.
“TO THE FULLEST…”
In John 10:10, Jesus says “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus wants us to have life “to the full.” That word “to the full” means to have life abundantly, extraordinarily, profusely. He wants us to be spilling over with life. And so when we say “we seek to live life in Christ TO THE FULLEST” we mean that there is no end in sight. There is always more of his life that we can receive and live out. He doesn’t want us to “settle for less.” He’s drawing us “further up and further in.” There’s always more of Himself he wants to give us. One day, in the New Heavens and the New Earth, the fullness of life in Christ will break upon us like the dawn. But until then, we press on towards that fullness.
