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The State of Heart we call Thankfulness in Scripture, is one that leads to the formation of vision in the heart. “Without Vision the People Perish. But he that keeps the Law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18.
Vision is not something that is designed as an apparition, a dream or say, an angelic presence. The vision spoken of here is much more powerful… and without it, a man or woman perishes. We were made by God to pursue a relationship with him, and that relationship is supernatural. It also- by way of vision- is by definition, an insight into things in a much deeper level than naturally possible. The world of the occult can also produce its own version of vision- with or without apparitions etc. But the vision spoken of here is bounded by the Law of God and it rejoices the heart.
Such rejoicing of the heart is a function of a thankful soul. We become deeply indebted and therefore thankful to our God for the rich provision of His Grace as He opens His Holy Precepts, especially as we need them to deliver us, to help us, to guide us with insights cultivated by the paths and directives He creates for us (cf. Psalm 5:7-12).
Individuals, who as Christians who have been endowed as “game changers” in life, men like Washington, Wilberforce, Athanasius, Ruth, Esther, Paul the Apostle – were all men and women whom God graced with a deep understanding of Holy Precept which gave them FORESIGHT, creating deep and lasting impact on the individuals and society surrounding them. It was said of the church minister, Athanasius, “Athanasius against the world, and the world against Athanasius.” He stood alone in the 4th Century AD teaching that Scripture directs us to understand a more robust description of the person and nature of Jesus Christ than what the surrounding churches more popularly taught. He drew the hatred of the world and much of the church as he taught us that the Scriptures instruct us that there are 3 persons in the Trinity, all of whom are equal as God, but the 2nd person of the Trinity (Jesus Christ the SON) has two natures (God and Man) united in one person without mixture.
Athanasius through his teaching and suffering, gained great depth of insight for the future and since he was hunted, maligned, slandered by both the churches and the world for his doctrine, he trusted the Lord and found Him to be faithful as Isaiah 54 states “there shall no weapon formed against thee prosper.” In other words, the boldness Athanasius showed was directly proportional to his faith by which he believed God had chosen him to bring this doctrine to the church and that God had chosen him to prevail. So that “when the smoke cleared” Athanasius was still standing four decades later… and his enemies were gone. It is that which teaches faith to be as bold as a lion and yet to be humbled under the mighty hand of God. It also teaches us to wrestle against the dearest sins of our hearts to purge iniquity so we might be pleasing to Him.
Equally, others have learned the same lessons in different circumstances and we must also learn amidst the tribulation of the current culture, (and that culture which will be brought to us in persecution and judgment) so that we stand fast and “when the smoke clears” WE are still standing.
Dr. Wayne C. Sedlak
