Without a Vision, The People Perish / People are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge
Many young and old people are perishing because they have no vision of who they are or their created purpose. They therefore have no hope for themselves or those around them. Many cannot see past the life they are trapped in, whether it be in their homes or neighborhoods. What they believe are the lies of the enemy and all they see is death and destruction, the very thing the enemy uses to get them to give up on life and live without hope.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. KJV
People are being destroyed because they lack the knowledge of who they truly are, the image bearers of God. All humanity was created in God’s image for God’s purpose and that alone brings them value, worth and respect. God created mankind and gave them authority over all the earth to rule and to reign in earth as He does in heaven. Satan the deceiver, destroyer and manslayer swindled and cheated mankind and they gave over this authority to a thief, the one who kills, steals and destroys.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children. ASV
Many people ask why did God create this terrible place and allow such horrible things. God did not mankind did. God created a perfect world where mankind could live in harmony with each other, their God and nature but they gave all this authority over to the destroyer. God gave all authority of the earth over to mankind and give them the autonomy, sovereignty and a will to make choices for themselves and they chose to have faith in Satan’s lies rather than God’s faithfulness. Humanity is free to make choices for their lives but they are not free from the consequences of their choices.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Though mankind gave Satan authority over all they had, God would not leave us in that fallen state. God promised to send another man, the Second Adam, who would redeem humanity back to God. Jesus came as a man with the authority of man and lived the life God had ordained for mankind. Jesus died in our place and conquered Satan who had the power over death and gave mankind another chance to choose life over death.
1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.
Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
All humanity is made in the likeness of God and are image bears of God, whom he created and love. God constantly pursues after us wanting us to turn from darkness to His Light. Though the enemy has marred humanity so that they no longer know or understand their created purpose, God is continuously coming after, wooing and engaging us to turn to Him. But He always leave the choice up to us as part of our God given, sovereign will.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. NIV
God made all creation but His thoughts are on mankind. His mind is full of thoughts of giving to all humanity hope and a future so that they will not live in despair and hopelessness during this life. But rather to seek after the things of God not only in this life but the next also.
In Psalm 8:5 the word angel was translated from the word Elohiym which means God/deity. This is the same name God gave Himself in Genesis 1:1 In the beginning Elohiym created the heavens and earth. And He crowned them with glory and honor. For this reason alone, all humanity is due respect, even the least of these. That includes those who are living in the streets in despair, selling all they have, to fulfill all the cravings and desires of their bodies. There are also those who have lost their way and reek with the stench of life on them. Jesus said as much as you have given to the least of these, you have given to God.
Psalms 8:4-6 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,human beings that you care for them? You have made them alittle lower than the angels (Elohiym) and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ NIV
Humanity is very important to God and He has sent Jesus to reconcile us back to Himself. God has also given us the ministry of reconciliation, to help those who have no hope, no vision and lack the knowledge and understanding of who they are as image bearers of God.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Again, people are perishing because they do not see, know or can visualize their worth and value as the image bearers of God, The Almighty Creator, Elohiym.
God has given us the ministry of reconciling His image bearers back to Himself. To reconcile is to make peace with the unfriendly or unlovely and who are often are antagonistic, hostile and hurtful. But they are not unlovable, God so loved the world that He gave His best to save the least.
Just as Jesus died that we could live, we too must die to self-importance and pride that others may live. We cannot be easily offended or wallow in self-pity when hurt people say hurtful things. We are to die to self, so that we can produce much fruit in the lives of others.
John 12:24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Integrity- People of God 