The Heavenly Vision: Discovering God’s Eternal Purpose

by Henry Hon

I want to talk to you today about something that has been weighing on my heart and is really the foundation of everything we are doing: the Vision of God’s Eternal Purpose.

Whether you’re just starting out in your 20s or you’ve been walking this path for sixty years, we all need to ask ourselves: do we have a vision that truly captures our hearts? 

What is a "Heavenly Vision"?

When we talk about a "vision," we aren't just talking about a good idea or a goal we’ve set for ourselves. We have to look at how the scriptures describe it. Think about the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. He was on his way to arrest Christians when he was knocked down, and the Lord spoke to him, giving him a specific charge.

Later, in Acts 26:19, Paul said, "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." What does that mean? It means he received an impression—a heavenly vision—that he simply could not shake. It wasn't just a piece of information; he was "caught" by it. Once you see this kind of vision, you are committed. You can’t just forget it or walk away; it overwhelms you and forces you to go in a particular direction.

It’s Not Just "Facts"

I want to be clear: having a vision of God’s purpose is very different from just learning facts or scientific knowledge. You can take a college class or a course and get a lot of regular knowledge, but a heavenly vision is a blessing from God that grips your heart and takes you over.

It’s the difference between knowing about God and being captured by His actual plan. In Acts 26, the Lord told Paul to go to the Gentiles to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and to show them the inheritance that belongs to those who believe. When that vision hits you, you don't turn to the left or to the right, and you certainly don't go back—you just have to go forward.

The Vision of the Lord’s Ekklesia

A major part of this eternal purpose is getting a vision of what we call the Lord’s Ekklesia (Democratic Assembly). This isn't just about being inspired or wanting everyone to get along; it’s about actually seeing what Christ said He was going to build.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, "I will build my church (lit. His Ekklesia)." This is the core of the vision. We need to move beyond just "salvation" as an individual concept and begin to understand this assembly that Christ is building. It is a specific vision of His plan for His people coming together—not just as a religious tradition, but as a living, breathing reality that He is constructing.

A Call to Move Forward

So, I ask you: Do you have a vision that overwhelms you? We need something more than inspiration; we need to be caught by the heavenly vision of what the Lord is doing on this earth.

When you see the inheritance that is in the saints, and you see the purpose of the Lord’s Ekklesia (His Democratic Assembly), it changes how you live every single day. You stop being double-minded. You find a direction, and you give yourself to it fully.

Let's pray for that kind of vision—the kind that grips the heart and keeps us moving forward toward God's eternal purpose.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling is, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, …” Eph. 1:18 (NASB)

Selah