Text: "Without a vision the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he", (Prov. 29:18).
    Egocentric visionaries who view themselves as the source of all wisdom sometimes assume that control of the universe will be safe only in their hands! Thus, political ambition sometimes drives pragmatic minded men to employ the precious Word of God as a tool of their own covetousness. This appears to have been the case with Governor Bill Clinton, in his acceptance speech before the Democratic National Convention in New York.
    Governor Clinton quoted our text and then presumed to represent himself as a person with just such a vision! But IS HE? What does this text actually say? Is it appealing to human wisdom for a plan of action? or for political strategy? HARDLY!
    One may get a clue to what is involved by a careful look at I Samuel 3:1. There, while Samuel was still a child, and ministering under the direction of Eli, it becomes evident that any word from the Lord was considered "precious"; because there was "no open vision"!
    In the book of Judges, one finds that "there was no king in Israel", (17:6). Without the restraint of civil authority "every man

    "I would ask my brethren who have been allured from the simplicity that is in Christ, and have yielded themselves to the maxims, the fashions, the luxury, and sensuality of a world that perisheth, What fruit have ye in the things of which ye were once ashamed? Is not the end of these things' death? What scriptural evidence do you possess that you are heirs of eternal life?
    Can you turn your eyes to the Saviour, and say to him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee? Jesus Christ has said: Except a man deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me, he cannot be my disciple. Are you conscious of either one of these evidences of discipleship?
    Christ has said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of heaven; and yet, is not your all-absorbing desire to be rich? Are you not robbing God by using what he has lent to you, in the gratification of worldly desires?
    An apostle has told us that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, are not of the Father, but of the world; and for these lusts are you not sacrificing your souls? Are not your children eagerly drinking in the poison with which you so liberally supply them? Suppose that you, at their age, had been where your children are now, where would you have been at the present

moment? Where, then, will they be, when they shall be of your age? What hope can you have of their salvation You must meet them at the judgment day, and can you abide that meeting?
    ….It is not too late to return. Let us do again our first works. God is yet waiting to be gracious unto us. Let us humble ourselves in the dust before him. Let us once more take up the forgotten cross, and walk in the footsteps of the lowly, self-denying Saviour. Let us bring our tithes into the storehouse, and see if God will not pour out upon us a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord".
-- Edited from Francis Wayland, in Principles and Practices of the Baptists


    When a Chicago youth jumped into the Chicago River yesterday, for a birthday swim, he was sucked into the "mainstream" - losing his life. It is feared that the same thing will happen to many professing Baptists who are more concerned to "be in the mainstream" than to "walk in truth"! BEWARE!

    In the first chapter of Genesis one finds the account of man's creation in "the image of God" and his commission "to rule" over the earth, (1:28). Then came the rebellion and fall wherein man forfeited the high privileges and glorious blessings that God had purposed for him. The only way they could be recovered would be through "redemption" wrought by another.
    The Scriptures progressively reveal God's plan to effect such a redemption - which would include the restoration of all that was affected by the Fall.
    1) Redemption will come through "the seed of the woman", (Gen. 3:15). He will reconcile men to God at great cost. He will be a man - derived from the woman, (Gal. 3:16; 4:3-7). He will crush Satan, cast him down, and eventually destroy him, (Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14-15; Rev. 12:9-10; 20:1-3).     2) This Redeemer will come from the Semitic branch of humanity, (Gen. 9:26). Within this branch, His descent will be through the family of Abraham, (Gen. 22:18; 26:4; 28:14).
    3) He will come from the royal tribe of Judah - he prophets referring to him as "Shiloh" - "He whose right it is", (Gen. 49:10; Ezek. 21:27; comp. John 1:45; 5:46; Heb. 7:14; Matt. 2:5-6). To Him will be "the gathering" [in obedience] of "the people" - an obvious reference to the coming kingdom of God on earth, (Rev. 5:5; 11:15).     4) As the "Star out of Jacob", (Num. 24:17), He will strike down all defiance, as manifested in Babylon, (Rev. 16:16; 19:19-21).
    5) He will be a prophet like unto Moses (Deut. 18:15) - faithfully proclaiming the Word of God, (comp. Jn. 3:34; Acts 3:20-24; 7:37; IPet. 1:11).

    6) His birth into the human race will be an occasion of joy and worship among the angels(Deut. 32:43); greater still the joy effected through His resurrection, (Heb. 1:5-6; Lk. 2:13-14; Psa. 2:7; Acts 12:29-39).
    7) In the prophetic prayer of Hannah (I Sam. 2:10) one finds the first usage of the term "anointed" [Messiah]; God will strengthen His anointed one to rule gloriously, (Rev. 11:15).
    8) He will descend from the lineage of David as an "everlasting king", (2 Sam. 7:13-14; Matt. 21:4-5; Acts 2:30-36). God will be His Father, and He will be God's Son, (Jn. 3:35). His rule will be righteous and good, (2 Sam. 23:3-4).
    9) In Job 17:3 the patriarch appears to view God as two persons: one who, as judge, metes out deserved punishment; the other, as a bondsman, who pledges himself for the innocence of the sufferer before the Judge and stands as his "Surety", or guarantee against the future, (comp. I John 2:1; Matt. 20:28).
    10) Job also views him as a "kinsman redeemer", who is both willing and able to vindicate his cause, (Job 19:25-27; comp. Ruth 3:9, 12, 18; 4:1-17). It is also through this one that Job is assured of life beyond the grave.
    In the New Testament we learn how Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to be our Redeemer, (Lk. 1:68; 2:38; I Pet. 3:18; Rev. 5:9; Tit. 2:14; I Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7; 4:30; Rom. 8:23; Heb. 9:12).
    Through repentance from our sins, and an exercise of personal trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Sin-bearer, we are liberated from bondage to sin and saved by the grace of God. A walk of continuing fellowship with Him may be ours in a proper, functioning relationship in a local New Testament church, which is "His body".

THE VITAL VISION...Continued
did that which was right in his own eyes". It was in such a time that the Danites took for themselves an inheritance in the country of Laish - confiscating the graven images and other religious objects belonging to one Micah (along with his hired priest); henceforth, bowing before that stolen idol, and worshipping it, so long as the House of God dwelt at Shiloh!
    1. "Vision", as used in Proverbs 29:18, involved divine instruction and direction for the covenant people. God Himself appointed a specific ministry for instructing His people in the way of His commandment, (1 Sam. 9:9; Mal. 2:7; Eph. 4:11-12). This ministry was designed to be an instrument for converting the heathen and the perfecting of the saints, (1 Cor. 1:21; Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23).
    Amos, the prophet, predicted the coming of a day wherein there would be a FAMINE of spiritual Instruction, (Amos 8:11-12; comp. Isa. 8:16-17). When there is no edification, exhortation, comfort and spiritual guidance for the people of God they perish. They become captives of Satan. Their hearts are bound up; their eyes shut; they can see nothing. Their ears are stopped so that they cannot hear. Thus, they become a prey, because they do not have the knowledge of God!
    2. Many a time Israel so provoked the Lord until He sent among them the most fearful of judgments - the removal of OPEN VISION, (1 Kings 12:28-32; 2 Chron. 15:3-5; Psa. 74:9; Lam. 1:4; 2:9; Ezek. 7:26; Hos. 3:4; 4:6).

3. In reality, the "vision" was one means whereby God revealed His will and purpose to men, (Gen. 15:1; 46:1; Ezek. 37:1-15; Acts 9:10; 10; 16:9; 18:9; 22:17-18; 23:1-11; 2 Cor. 12:1; Rev. 1:12).
    4. By means of "visions", God, in Old Testament times, often communicated His will and direction for the nation of Israel to her prophets, (Isa. 1:1; 21:2; Ezek. 11:24-12:6, 26-28; 37:1-14; Dan. 8:1; Amos 1:1; Obadiah 1:1; Nahum 1:1).
    Whenever someone comes to us as a self-proclaimed "man of VISION" let us make certain that, before casting our lot with him, we put him to the Scriptural test. He may be a FAKE; a deliberate deceiver who would not

hesitate to make merchandise of our souls!
    Not everyone who quotes (or misquotes) Scripture is a messenger, or representative, from God. He may be wresting the Scriptures to his own, ultimate DESTRUCTION!


    We are always interested to know that our message is being heard, and appreciate hearing from our readers. Not all agree with our viewpoint; but this is their privilege! We may not always agree with theirs.
    One brother recently wrote: "I continue to receive instruction and inspiration from your paper. Receive the enclosed offering with my love and gratitude" MW, Arkansas.
    By way of contrast, another responded: "Sneaky coward! Dirty gossipmonger! Bloody hypocrite!" (Name withheld, Colorado)
    The editor earnestly desires your prayers for wisdom and courage to be true to the Word of God and to such high principles as love for God and the souls of men demands.



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