I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (John
12:24).
Almost every significant thing God births He allows to die before the vision
is fulfilled in His own way.
Abraham had a vision of being the father of a great nation (birth). Sarah
was barren and became too old to have children (death). God gave Abraham and
Sarah a son in their old age. He became the father of a great nation
(fulfillment).
Joseph had a vision that he would be a great leader and that many would bow
down to him (birth). Joseph’s brothers sold him to some merchants and he
became a slave. Later he was falsely condemned to spend his years in prison
(death). God allowed Joseph to interpret the dreams of the butler and baker
and later the king, whereupon, he was made a ruler in the land
(fulfillment).
Moses had a vision of leading his people out of the bondage of Egypt
(birth). Pharaoh as well as his own people drove Moses out of Egypt after
his first attempt to relieve their bondage (death). God gave Moses signs and
wonders to convince Pharaoh to free the people and bring them out of Egypt
and into the Promised Land (fulfillment).
The disciples had a vision of establishing the kingdom of God with Jesus
(birth). The very ones He came to save killed Jesus, and the disciples saw
Him buried in a tomb (death). God raised Jesus from the dead, and the
disciples performed great miracles until the Gospel had spread through all
the world (fulfillment).
A grain of wheat has a “vision” of reproducing itself and many more grains
of wheat (birth). The grain dies in the ground (death). A harvest springs up
out of the very process of “death” in the ground (fulfillment).
Has God given you a vision that is yet unfulfilled? If that vision is born
of God He will raise it up in His own way. Do not try to raise the vision in
your own strength. Like Moses who tried to fulfill the vision of freeing the
Hebrews by killing the Egyptian, it will only fail. But, wait on your
Heavenly Father to fulfill the vision. Then you will know that it was His
vision when He fulfills it in the way only He can do.