Daily Devotional | Persistence of Vision

Persistence of vision is the effect you see when you wave a sparkler in the air. The light appears to remain in place after the sparkler has moved. This effect is also what makes animation possible.

The Old Testament heroes of faith mentioned in today’s passage experienced a kind of persistence of vision. Faith enabled them to hold God’s promises in view after they had been given. Through their persistence in faith, they looked beyond the present and anticipated what God would do in the future.

Even though Abraham had “embraced the promises” that God would raise up descendants through Isaac, he placed Isaac on the altar when tested (vv. 17–18). God provided a lamb to take Isaac’s place, foreshadowing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Gen. 22:8, 13). Abraham was certain that God would fulfill His promise, even if it meant raising Isaac from the dead (v. 19). Isaac pronounced a blessing over his sons Jacob and Esau and predicted their future (v. 20; Gen. 27:27–29, 39–40). Jacob similarly blessed Joseph’s sons and spoke of their future as he was about to die (v. 22; Gen. 48:1–22).

Moses’ parents refused to obey Pharaoh’s edict to kill their firstborn son because “they saw he was no ordinary child” (v. 23). Moses, in turn, had a sense of this calling (Acts 7:25). Verse 26 observes, “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” The Israelites passed through the Red Sea on dry land and watched Jericho’s walls fall (vv. 29–30). The prostitute Rahab of Jericho welcomed the spies and saw her family saved (v. 31). Faith enables us to persist in obedience and helps us see “him who is invisible” (v. 27).

Go Deeper

Have you ever looked beyond the present and anticipated what God would do in the future? In what way would “persistence of vision” change your life?

Pray with Us: Lord Jesus, Your victory and Your eternal kingdom help us not to be afraid of the future. We rejoice in the coming peace in Your kingdom. Thank You for giving us hope and vision for our lives.

BY Dr. John Koessler

John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody Bible Institute. John authors the “Practical Theology” column for Today in the Word of which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor. An award-winning author, John’s newest title is When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray (Kirkdale). Prior to joining the Moody faculty, he served as a pastor of Valley Chapel in Green Valley, Illinois, for nine years. He and his wife, Jane, now enjoy living in a lakeside town in Michigan.