Men of Vision

This is too good to pass up.

I got it in the latest post from the blog "Christ is Deeper Still," by Ray Ortlund. The title is alludes to Corrie Ten Boom.

Within, he quotes Sacrifice, by Howard Guinness (pp 59-60).

"Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap and be faithful even unto death? Where are those who will lose their lives for Christ's sake -- flinging them away for love of him? Where are those who will live dangerously and be reckless in his service? Where are his lovers -- those who love him and the souls of men more than their own reputations or comfort or very life?

Where are the men who will say 'no' to self, who take up Christ's cross to bear it after him; who are willing to be nailed to it in college or office, home or mission field; who are willing, if need be, to bleed, to suffer and to die on it?

Where are the men of vision today? Where are the men of enduring vision? Where are the men who have seen the King in his beauty, by whom from henceforth all else is counted but refuse that they may win Christ? Where are the adventurers, the explorers, the buccaneers for God who count one human soul of far greater value than the rise or fall of an empire? Where are the men who glory in God-sent loneliness, difficulties, persecutions, misunderstandings, discipline, sacrifice, death? Where are the men who are willing to pay the price of vision?

Where are the men of prayer? Where are the men who, like Job of old, count God's Word of more importance to them than their daily food? Where are the men who, like Moses, commune with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend and unmistakably bear with them the fragrance of the meeting through the day?

Where are God's men in this day of God's power?"

Perhaps, I would pray, seated at a keyboard, reading a blog with a funny name about birds. And I would further pray, that they wouldn't remain seated for long.

And I don't want to appear glib or saccharine about this, either. I understand it is a daunting task--the greatest challenge of our day-to-day lives--just to get over ourselves. It is easy--indeed, automatic--to be self-absorbed and indifferent to all else, and this self-absorption can taint even the good things, even the blessings in our lives. Our dearest friends and family that we said we would love always. Our careers and ministries that we had recently believed were a sacred calling from God, but now feel burdensome.

We must begin to live with a vision of a life, a community, a Kingdom, that is greater than ourselves. Cheap and alluring are the roads of selfish ambition or trivial amusement, but those roads lead to a pit.

But wait! Read the Corrie ten Boom quote at the top of Mr. Ortlund's blog: "There is no pit so deep, but..."

Peace,

Tyler