Don’t Stop At Knowing (2)

Habakkuk 2:2&3

2And the LORD answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it. 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

It is one thing to know your purpose; it is another thing to fulfill your purpose. Have you ever asked yourself the reason God gives His beloved a vision and when he does, He helps you see the big picture, you see the end clearly? Because God is all-knowing and has seen all the bumps you’ll encounter before you get to your destination, hence, He gives you the end picture to help you to keep moving. Whenever God brings a vision to your knowledge, there is a binding force to achieve it and it can never be achieved until you have played your role. If God just says, I’ll bless you and doesn’t give you a vision or doesn’t reveal the end of his promise, like he did for Jacob; you’ll probably falter when it gets really bumpy, when it gets really tough. No wonder the bible calls him the “one who knows the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10) I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. As for God, he has already perfected His plans for you because the number of days you haven’t fulfilled, he has already lived through, seen all your failures, where you’ll likely give up, days you’ll cry, days you’ll sorrow in your pursuit for success and guess what? He mapped out a plan for you, he’s positioned help for you each day, he’s filled each day with the grace that you need, that’s why the bible says, “today is a day the Lord has made, I’ll rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).With all assurance, God says in verse 10B of Isaiah 46 that His purpose for you will stand and do all that He pleases, that’s to tell you that he has seen you reach the end and has perfected it, all you need do is run with the vision he’s given you. Also, bear in mind that when God gives you a vision, He equips you with all that you need to achieve it.

Let me tell you a story, I used to be an athlete back in the days and I had some trainers who would get me up at about 4.30am every morning (in preparation for a huge competition). A lot of them depended on me to win the cup, they were training me to stay light and strong. They starved me (I would eat only a slice of bread, no water, just glucose), ran around a 400 meter field about 10 times, did sit ups and pushups, they stretched me to a breaking point and explained to me why they were doing that to me and not other students, they made me see the end of the competition, the cup, the glory in being celebrated, the popularity, etc Being a short distance runner, I needed to comply if I had to cover all the laps and get the cup. On the day of the competition, I had done 100m, 200m, relay and finally 400m which demanded speed from start to finish and at that point I was so tired to lift my legs even though I was leading, the only thing that ever kept me lifting my legs, however heavy they were, was the cup, the glory and all.

Verse 2 of Habakkuk 2, says, write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it. What does this mean? Write the vision, note the vision, remember the vision, let the vision be in your memory, do not forget your vision that you may not run in vain and make it plain, how? Understand your reason for embarking on a journey, understand your purpose, and make it clear to yourself why you have to go for your crown, because the zeal, the eagerness, the fervor, the interest to achieve the expected end comes through knowing the purpose of God for your life, but did God say stop at knowing and understanding? No! He said, RUN! PURSUE! Don’t stop until you get it for there is an assurance of your crown (expected end) as long as you run with your vision. Another fact I’d like to point out is the reason God said, you should know your vision, engrave the vision in your heart, understand your vision and RUN with your vision is for you never to give up in pursuit for success because those things that would distract you would come, those situations that will discourage you will come, those ugly feelings will rear their ugly heads, e.g, fear of the unknown, uncertainty, doubt, etc.,those friends that would mock you will appear, those who tried and failed all the way will be in your face and try to add you to the number of “tried and failed”, but, it is totally dependent on you to choose your goal over your detractors.  Galatians 5:7&8, you were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. The only time you’re permitted to stop pursuing God’s plan for you is when it is manifested and you are sure it is permanent, its permanence depends on your level of adherence to moral and ethical principles. For example, a person whom God has given a clear vision to Pastor a 2 million member church may succeed in bringing that vision to play, but how well the church advances depends on how the Pastor maintains an upright conduct.

In conclusion, you do not have any business being with anything or anyone that draws you back or prevents you from running and finishing well; no matter what it is or who it is because Galatians 5 verse 8 says such person or thing isn’t from God who gave you that vision, who called you for that purpose.

I pray that every detractor in our lives be completely defeated. May God open the eyes of your understanding to know what His purpose for you is and grant us all the strength to run without looking back till we’re crowned. Amen!