A Vision for the Future

There are a handful of powerful verses in the Bible that talk about the importance of vision for the future. The first part of Proverbs 29:18 is one of them: “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”

This means it is impossible to restrain negative behavior or keep a group together on the same mission when they aren’t on the same page, spiritually—and when they aren’t paying close attention to their lives today and their futures tomorrow.

Last week I introduced the idea of generational transference. Whether intentional or not, we parents are passing along an inheritance to our children and grandchildren. We often think of an inheritance as being monetary in nature, but it’s so much more than that.

We leave behind our values, our good name, the example of our marriage, our parenting skills and behavior patterns, and our spiritual guidance. If these things are lacking from our lives, we pass along that absence as well. Every parent influences the generations that follow, and it doesn’t happen by accident.

Have you ever heard the saying “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”? Many people make a negative generational transference because they have no plan or vision for their family. To leave behind positive values, you must make up your mind to do it. You must prepare.

Do you have a vision for your family? If not, ask God to give you one. Single or married, with children or without, you should ask God what His plan is for your life, your marriage, and your family.

Seek God until you get a sense of what He is saying. What will be the impact your family has on the world around it? How will He use your family to further His kingdom?

Then, once you receive what you believe is God’s plan for your life and future generations, I encourage you to write it down. Keep it before you. Make it your mission statement in life.

Habakkuk 2:2 says “…write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” This extraordinary Scripture passage contains a truth we should remember—that writing down a vision and reading it regularly can be energizing.

It keeps it in front of us. It motivates us. It helps us as we train our children. It pushes us to take that vision and run.

The opposite is also true. A failure to discover and remember this vision or family mission statement can leave us aimless in life. There will be nothing to guide our actions or decisions.

We will find ourselves “going through the motions” each day without any greater meaning, unmotivated and unrestrained. Living this way for too long results in a meaningless life and the failure to transfer anything positive to our children.

Don’t leave your future—and the future of the generations that follow you—up to chance. Ask God to give you a vision for your marriage and family, then pursue that vision with everything you have. He will be faithful to guide you there.