Vision Sunday

VISION SUNDAY Habakkuk 1:14, Habakkuk 2:2-3 --- BE IN YOUR BEST POSITION TO HEAR AND RECEIVE (Hab 2:1) The watchman and watchtower, often used by the prophets to show an attitude of expectation (Isa 21:8, 11; Jer 6:17; Ezek 3:17), are pictures of Habakkuk's attitude of patient waiting and watching for God's response. Habakkuk wanted to be in the best position to receive God's message. --- TRUST GOD (Hab 2:3) Evil and injustice seem to have the upper hand in the world. Like Habakkuk, Christians often feel angry and discouraged as they see what goes on. Habakkuk complained vigorously to God about the situation. God's answer to Habakkuk is the same answer he would give us: "If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place." It isn't easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God hates sin even more than we do. Punishment of sin will certainly come. As God told Habakkuk, "Wait patiently." We must trust God even when we don't understand why events occur as they do. --- LIVE BY FAITH (Hab 2:4) "The righteous shall live by his faith." In light of God's revelation about how (and when) he is working, his people are to be patient and live by faith. (1) It is "the righteous"—those who entrust their lives to God and do what is right according to his standards—who will come through victorious in the end. (2) The righteous are contrasted with the proud and the ungodly, whose life choices and direction oppose God. The hearts of the righteous are devoted to God; they want to be his children, to have close fellowship with him and to obey his plans and desires. (3) The righteous must rely on God to accomplish his purposes for them in this world. This kind of "faith" implies an active and lasting trust in God. It is evidence of a personal loyalty to him as Savior and Lord (i.e., the Leader and authority over their lives) and a moral commitment to follow his plans. (4) This phrase, "the righteous shall live by his faith," or a form of it, is used throughout the NT to support the teaching that people are saved by grace (i.e., God's undeserved favor) through faith in Christ (cf. Eph. 2:8). Paul develops the theme in Rom. 1:17 and Gal. 3:11, and the writer to the Hebrews emphasizes that God's people must continue to live by faith in order to please God (see Heb. 10:38; 11:6).