The Patience To Wait for the Vision

Though it tarries, wait for it . . . —Habakkuk 2:3

Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “. . . he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue— he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is of God because of the inspiration that comes with it. Things come to you with greatness and add vitality to your life because everything is energized by God. He may give you a time spiritually, with no word from Himself at all, just as His Son experienced during His time of temptation in the wilderness. When God does that, simply endure, and the power to endure will be there because you see God.

“Though it tarries, wait for it . . . .” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. The psalmist said, “What shall I render to the Lord . . . ? I will take up the cup of salvation . . .” (Psalm 116:12-13). We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, “Now I’ve got it! Now I am completely sanctified. Now I can endure.” Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. Paul said, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on . . .” (Philippians 3:12). If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing. But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation.

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忍耐的情操

雖然遲延，還要等候。 （哈二3）

忍耐不是置之不理；忍耐是一座極其堅強的磐石，受得起一切的打擊。忍耐的根源，是看見了神的異象；因為看見神，就帶來品德上的啟示。摩西之所以能堅忍，不是因為他對正義與責任的理想，而是因為看見了神。他恆心忍耐，[如同看見那不能看見的主。 ]一個有神異象的人，不是投身於一件工作或某一項任務，而是獻身於神自己。異像是否出於神，是看得出來的，只要看所帶來的啟示便可知；生命會變得廣大和滋潤，因為一切由神發動。神若在屬靈上給你一段曠野試探的時期，像他兒子所經歷的，完全沒他的話語，你就要忍耐；恆心忍耐，是因為你看見神。

[雖然遲延，還要等候。 ]要證明我們的確看見了異象，是要伸手去抓住那超乎我們所能抓住的（意即竭力追求）。屬靈的自滿是不好的。詩人說：[我拿什麼報答耶和華？ ][我要舉起救恩的杯。 ]我們很容易自滿自足－－[現在我得著了；現在我完全聖潔了；現在我能夠忍受了。 ]這樣我們馬上就會跌倒。我們的目標必須超越實際的。 [我不是以為自己已經得著了，已經完全了。 ]我們有的若只是經歷，就一無所有了；但我們若有神異象的啟示，那所有的就遠超過所經歷的了。要當心屬靈懈怠的危險。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，在我自覺的生活中，但願能流露更多的愛、憐憫、敬虔和對你的熱愛。求你使我對周圍的人，能有善意的表現，並以忍耐和溫柔去待他們。