September 5

The Power of Vision

The King James Version of Proverbs 29:13 reads, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Although the NIV translation is somewhat different, the impact is equally powerful “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.”

Unless God’s people have a clear understanding of where they are headed, the probability of a successful journey is non-existent. This is the problem we have in the church today. We don’t have a clear view of a preferred future so we wander around, lost in the culture. Most Christians today do not have a vision guiding their lives; they simply wake up in the morning and make up a plan minute by minute.

Today’s reading gives us the vision for a people in exile. For the Jews living in Babylon, serving a foreign empire, the reality that one day this glorious temple would be built, would give them hope every moment of every day.

Ezekiel 43:10-11 describes how the power of a vision can impact how we live today,
"Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider the plan, and if they are ashamed of all they have done, make known to them the design of the temple--its arrangement, its exits and entrances--its whole design and all its regulations and laws. Write these down before them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations.

Two additional issues:
1. Why a description of a temple when Jesus has already done away with the blood of lambs? My guess is that this is the completion of Israel’s history. For the Jews, history ends with God reaffirming his promise given to Abraham, the promise of a nation, a land and a Messiah.

2. Why was the east gate to remain closed? 44:1-3
God entered through this gate and no one else can walk where God has.
A sign that God would never leave them like he did when his glory departed earlier
To stop them from worshiping the sun from the temple grounds.
It could be a combination of all three.

As I finished these chapters of Ezekiel, I am one who looks forward to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. I believe there will actually be a third temple built in the future. For anyone reading this in later years you will know the “Antichrist” has appeared when he signs a covenant with Israel to allow them to rebuild this third temple. No matter what the newspapers and press say about this man, no matter how high his popularity in the polls, the rebuilding of the temple is a sign that this man is a liar and a false prophet. Do not be fooled by the power and charisma of this world dictator. Believe the God of the Bible and you will be saved.