What does the vision of a forgiven prostitute look like?
What is the end goal- what are you trying to accomplish? And what will you set your eyes upon to get there: this is the beginning of vision. Seeing clearly the course ahead of you and the reason why you put one foot in front of the other- this is vision. It isn’t just the end goal, but it is what you will set your sights upon on your way there. It is your reasoning for getting there in the first place.
Mary Magdalene’s story of redemption sings a song of mercy straight from the Father’s heart. We remember when Jesus bent down and wrote forgiveness into the dirt instead of casting a stone at her. Mary’s life turned into an unfolding of King David’s longing to be with God wherever He was, and to gaze upon His beauty. Jesus prayed this same prayer before He went to the cross, he prayed, “Let them be with me where I am, that they may see my beauty, and that they would be priests who minister to my heart.”
“Why this waste?” exclaimed one of the men who were at Simon the Leper’s house while Jesus was in Bethany. Mary Magdalene had found out that Jesus was staying there, and she had brought an alabaster box of perfume and broke it at the feet of Jesus. This would have cost her more than a year’s wages, or even her dowry. She poured out all that she was at the feet of Jesus. Her eyes saw the worthiness of the Lord Jesus.
This is what a forgiven prostitute like Mary Magdalene saw: “And I will betroth you to me forever, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” She had tapped into the longing of Jesus’s heart: for her to see Him as He is, and to be with Him. She sat at His feet when Martha saw it as a waste of time. Martha worked for forgiveness (which wouldn’t work), and despised the better part that Mary chose. Mary received forgiveness and she poured out the sweet gift back out at the feet of her Savior.
It is all about Perspective
When people talk about vision, what do they really mean? When people talk about having vision and casting vision, I think that most mistakenly talk about their mission’s statement. Let me explain… A mission statement should be a guide for the actions of an individual or organization; it spells out the overall goal, provides a path, and guides the decision-making. Mission statements should provide the framework or blueprints for strategies (or goal setting). Here is mine: “I desire to proclaim the knowledge of Jesus through prayer, worship, and in lifestyle in such a way that it brings many people into giving Jesus His rightful rule in their hearts.” That’s a clear mission’s statement, but it has to come from a certain perspective with a certain end goal. A simple definition of vision: seeing things clearly.
Now, as believers, we believe that the end goal of missions is worship and the end goal of worship is to glorify Jesus. These are the eyes that we should see through- knowing Jesus and making Him known. Jesus is the gospel, without Him, the good news wouldn’t be good.
Vision is all about perspective. If you look through a pane of glass that is green, you will in turn see things in a green tint. Vision is not values. Vision is not goals, but vision is in the eyes- the lenses in which you look from. If we could see vision (or perspective) as the starting point of values, which produces goals, then we would see our life’s mission much more clearly.
Martha looked through lenses that caused her to work to earn Jesus’ love. What is the color of glass that you look through? Mary saw through a pane of glass washed in the blood that speaks a better word. My vision is this: Jesus- knowing Him, and making Him known. In having this perspective, my mission’s statement, values, and goals are all rooted in His heart, His ways, & His plans.
