“He interrupted with a shout: ‘Paul, you’re crazy! You’ve read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on yourself, get back in the real world!’” (Acts 26:24)

As Paul took his defense against the accusations from the Jewish leaders and priests, in front of King Agrippa, he expounded on how his life was changed when Jesus spoke to him on the way to Damascus in a vision and followed the vision he saw from heaven. What was the vision Paul received from God? In Acts 26:17-18, the Lord replied to Paul, “Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.” Paul boldly shared with King Agrippa the vision and how he was arrested due to the preaching of Jesus the resurrected One. King Agrippa was a person well acquainted with “Jewish customs and controversies” and didn’t refute Paul’s statement, saying, “Do you think you can convert me to Christianity in a short time?” However, Festus, a Roman governor, knew nothing about the Jewish culture thinking Paul was out of his mind due to too much.

Being a visionary Christian relies on great learning or much knowledge, but on whether you receive a vision or mission from God and follow it humbly and faithfully. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). What enabled Paul to risk his life to preach the grace of Jesus Christ lied in God’s love pouring out upon him as well as the world. The vision for Paul is to bring people out of darkness into the light of God, have their sins forgiven through the grace of Christ, and enjoy the presence of God.

Are you a visionary Christian? A Christian’s vision is not your making, your ambition to become successful in the world, nor the expectations from your parents and teachers, but it is a calling from God. Perhaps we might be called “crazy” like Paul was, but instead of being crazy for the world be zealous for God.