How to Fulfill the Vision God Has for You – Conclusion
Everyone can apply the principle of having dreams and committing to a plan to fulfill them. But “unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…” (cf. Psalm 127:1). As Kenneth Hagin pointed out, “the text doesn’t say that unless the Lord builds the house, the house will not be built. The house may be built but those who build it labour in vain”. Similarly, the best goals and plans will ultimately come to nought if God is not in it. The only way to ensure that your goals and dreams do not amount to nothing is to abide in Christ. Jesus emphasized this in His Farewell discourse to His disciples before His crucifixion: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).
The problem of not abiding in Christ is not just that of wasting your efforts but the danger of being cast away from the kingdom of God. Jesus warned about this in John 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned”. This does not just apply to unbelievers but to believers as well, just as Jesus Himself affirmed: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit”. Here, Jesus specifically referred to branches in Him, not outside of Him, that fail to bear fruit. You can be grafted in Christ through faith in Him. But the failure to bear fruits is prove that you are not abiding Him since it is only those who abide in Him who can bear fruits (see John 15:4-5). And those who fail to abide in Him are taken away and cast into the fire (John 15:1-2, 6). Jesus and the apostles warned about this multiple times (e.g., Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 24:13, Revelation 3:5, Galatians 5:19-21, Hebrews 10:26-27). We are deceived if we think otherwise.
What does it man to practically abide in Christ? Jesus answered this question: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…” (John 15:10). To abide in Jesus’ love is to abide in Him since He is God, who is also Love (John 1:1, 1 John 4:8). Thus, to abide in Christ is to walk in obedience to His commands or His Word (John 15:10, see also 1 John 2:24). This is the only way to bear fruits that is acceptable to God. It’s the only way to make your goals and plans count, and it’s the only way to fulfill your God given vision.
Kwadwo Omari, Ph.D.
March 22, 2024
A Very Important Message
The Bible says in John 3:16 that “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. Romans 6:23 also says that “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”. Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. You can sincerely pray this prayer to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Let us pray: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be trained to grow in the ways of God. God bless you.