Volume 3 Issue 7

JUST A THOUGHT

“F

or as he thinks within himself, so he is.” (Proverbs 23:7) The Hebrew word used here for “thinks” is sha`ar and means to “split or open, i.e. to act as a GATEKEEPER”. It is derived from a word that means “janitor”. A gatekeeper is one who either allows or forbids someone entrance into the place he is standing watch over and a janitor is one who cleans up messes and maintains the building where he is employed. Thus, if the gatekeeper is honest and trustworthy, he will allow in only those approved by his employer. Likewise, if the janitor is good and does his job well, the building he is responsible for will be clean and sanitary and operating efficiently. However, if the gatekeeper is dishonest or easily persuaded to believe the lies some may tell him in order to gain access to restricted areas, all kinds of unwelcome people will come in, free to do whatever mischief they desire. Furthermore, if the janitor is lazy or simply bad at his job, the mischief done by the intruders will remain untouched and eventually the residence of the employer will become nothing more than a garbage dump. At first it may seem that not much damage has been done. Allowing one unscrupulous person into your home may go unnoticed, and the need to “clean” up after him is not thought to be necessary. But after time, as more and more unscrupulous persons invade your home, and the “messes” they make are not cleaned up, you find yourself living in a home you no longer recognize.

This may seem obvious and even a little ridiculous. After all, who would put up with a gatekeeper (doorman, butler) that would allow in all sorts of strangers, either because they bride him or they persuade him they know the homeowner; who would put up with a janitor (housekeeper, maid) that was lazy or willfully overlooked things that needed attention? Chances are their jobs would be in danger. The wise homeowner would not continue to pay for services he was not receiving. Yet, when it comes to the home we call our mind, we are all to often willing to compromise our safety and security by allowing in thoughts that are inappropriate and then not sweeping them out. Instead, they take up residence in our mind and if we allow them to stay, they begin to pollute and corrupt our lives.

The corruption can start innocently enough. Often we are going about our day with no intention of doing anything contrary to the will of God until, seemingly out of nowhere, a thought comes that grabs our attention. “Why not just move in with my girlfriend/boyfriend. Marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper after all. Besides, I want to avoid divorce, and what better way to determine if this person is right for me than living together?” What is wrong with this thought? It is based on lies. Living together outside of marriage is fornication, a sin specifically forbidden by God. It attempts to equate marriage as nothing more than living together because a piece of paper makes it legal, when in fact, that piece of paper represents commitment and self-sacrifice, both of which are directly and purposefully avoided by simply living together outside of marriage. In addition, statistics show that couples that live together and then marry have a higher divorce rate than those who have never lived together. Thus, the lie the world propagates about “trying” out your partner first to see if you are compatible is exposed. There is no sin in the thought, but if we allow it to remain, sin will be the result. Our resistance to it will weaken as our arguments are countered by the desires of our fallen fleshly nature. The “gatekeeper” was enticed to let in a wrong thought and the “janitor” failed to remove it.

Eve did not set out to sin by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that God had specifically forbidden. She was likely enjoying the day and going about her duties when a thought was planted within her mind. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, “You shall not eat from any tree of the garden”?’” (Genesis 3:1) Did Eve reject the thought? On the contrary, she stated God’s commandment: “And the woman said to the serpent, ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.”’” (Genesis 3:2-3) Eve thus showed that she knew what God’s will was. This knowledge should have kept her from any further contact with the serpent; yet, perhaps curious to hear what the serpent had to say, she continued to listen to him.

The question the serpent asked Eve appeared innocent enough, but because Eve chose to engage the serpent instead of shunning him, he found an opening to put doubt into Eve’s mind about God’s truthfulness, insinuating God was withholding something good from her. “And the serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely shall not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” (Genesis 3:4-5) Eve had one more chance here to shut the door of her heart and reject disobedience to God’s commandment, but the “gatekeeper” was enticed by the possibility of being like God. The bribe was too great to be ignored and the door was opened wide, “When the woman SAW”. (Genesis 3:6) Eve’s thought had taken on concrete action. The act of looking signaled a desire in Eve to believe the serpent and question God’s character and truthfulness.

What did Eve see? “The tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise.” (Genesis 3:6) There was nothing wrong with the fruit. It was good for food and there is nothing wrong in eating to satisfy our hunger. It was pleasing to the sight and there is nothing wrong in desiring to be surrounded with beauty. It was capable of imparting wisdom and growing in wisdom is a virtue. What Eve saw was something that APPEARED to be a legitimate source for achieving her GOD-GIVEN desires. Eve possibly reasoned that maybe God had made a mistake when He placed this tree off limits or maybe she had misunderstood His commandment not to eat of it. It did not look bad or rotten, it did not smell offensive, it did not feel dangerous, and its taste was agreeable, so agreeable that she immediately shared it with Adam. “She took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6) Notice the progression from the original thought. She was asked to think about what God had said concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and with that thought to consider that God was lying to her and withholding something from her that she had a right to. She turned her thoughts to the fruit and noticed it was appealing to her SENSES. Her eyes saw it, her nose smelled it, her fingers felt it, her tongue tasted it, her body received it, and then she shared it. What once was outside of her now became part of her (for we truly are what we eat) and not only a part of her, but also a part of her family. A simple thought allowed to lodge within her mind became the action that brought about the fall of creation.

Sin and rebellion toward God ALWAYS begins in the mind. Satan and his demons have not changed their tactics at all since the Garden of Eden. Evil does not always look repugnant; in fact, quite the opposite. “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15) If Satan can make himself and the demons appear good and righteousness, it is a small thing for him to make sin, even the most heinous sin, appear desirable.

From the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin steadily progressed until the world was totally corrupted. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that EVERY INTENT OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) What was the result of such thoughts? “Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, AND THE EARTH WAS FILLED WITH VIOLENCE.” (Genesis 6:11) Thoughts will lead to actions if they are not cast from our minds. The word “intent” is the Hebrew MASCULINE noun “yester”, and means “a form, conception”. It comes from the word “yatsar”, which means “to mould into a form through the SQUEEZING into shape”. It is used of a potter shaping clay. The word “thoughts” is the Hebrew FEMININE noun “machashabach or machashebeth”, and means “machine, or intention, or plan”. It has been translated as “thought(s), design(s), scheme(s), and plan(s), among others. Remember that “masculine” corresponds to “spirit” and “feminine” corresponds to “soul”. It depends on the SPIRIT we listen to that frames or shapes or SQUEEZES our thoughts into what we ultimately give birth too, what plans or schemes we work out in our lives.

We are to be constantly vigilant when it comes to what thoughts we allow to remain in our minds. Like a good “gatekeeper” we are to guard ourselves from letting the lies of demonic spirits replace the truth that the Holy Spirit has imparted to each Christian. Paul told the Corinthians that, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) The word “thought” is the Greek “noema”, and means “perception or purpose”. It is the same word used in 2 Corinthians 2:11 when Paul says, “for we are not ignorant of his (Satan’s) SCHEMES.” Satan’s schemes or thoughts toward us are for our destruction, to lead us astray from the truth the Holy Spirit imparts to us, thus, causing us to lead a defeated Christian life. Satan cannot take away our salvation; that is secure in Jesus, but he can weaken our walk in this life and make us ineffective and unfruitful.

We must not forget that as Christians we are in a war; not a physical war (though Christians are persecuted throughout the world for their belief in Jesus Christ), but a spiritual war. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) Satan desires to take us captive by deceiving us into believing lies, but we are told to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) What lies does Satan tell us? They are beyond number, but they boil down to him trying to convince us we do not need God because we are sufficient within ourselves (the lie he baited Eve with), He can not love us because we are sinners and thus unlovable, and He cannot forgive us because we have sinned too many times.

If we believe the first lie and attempt to live our lives outside of Jesus Christ we fail miserably “for apart from Me (Jesus) you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) And the biggest thing we cannot do is fill the emptiness within. Man goes through life searching for significance and desiring to understand the meaning of life, but all that he THINKS will bring him fulfillment falls wholly short of that goal. “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is LIFE AND PEACE.” (Romans 8:5-6)

The next lie Satan tries to overcome us with is that, saved or not, we were born sinners and we will die sinners, and who can love a sinner? The truth is we are SAINTS. That does not mean we are sinless. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8) Everyone sins from time to time, but that does not change our RELATIONSHIP with the heavenly Father. It does alter our COMMUNION with Him until the sin is confessed and forsaken, but not our RELATIONSHIP. We are still His saints. Even the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) never stopped being a son. What we DO does not determine our relationship with God, but what we BELIEVE most certainly does. The Corinthians were among the most fleshly, immature Christians Paul dealt with, yet he addresses them: “to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, SAINTS BY CALLING.” (1 Corinthians 1:2) Whose calling? God’s!

The lie of being unforgiven is perhaps the most insidious. If Satan can convince you that God cannot or will not forgive you, you become just one more unfruitful Christian. Your sense of self-worth will be zero and because you THINK you are unforgiven you will ACT as if you are unforgiven. You will go through life with your head down, comparing yourself to other Christians who are accomplishing great things for the Kingdom of God, and wondering why (or if) God ever called you in the first place. Satan may not be able to snatch your eternal security away, but his lips curl into a cruel smile when he sees you burdened by the lie of unforgiveness. The truth is, “There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) “Truly I say to you, ALL SINS shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter.” (Mark 3:28) (This verse does mention the “Unforgivable Sin”, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which some people, Christians included, think they have committed. However, your concern about committing this sin is the best indication you have not. Anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit does so with a full understanding of doing so AND DOES NOT CARE.) As human beings we tend to THINK God will not forgive us because we often will not forgive others who have hurt us. We do not forgive because we want those who have hurt us to suffer, and thus we seek vengeance. We want to right the wrong done to us, and there is nothing wrong with seeking justice. However, too much of the time our seeking is motivated by fleshly, unspiritual anger, “and the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20) Thus, the Lord reminds us, “‘For My THOUGHTS are not your THOUGHTS, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My THOUGHTS than your THOUGHTS.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9) We THINK we are beyond the love of the Father, that we have rebelled for too long, making it all the more unforgivable because we KNEW we were sinning. Yet, just as Israel rebelled against the grace of God time and time again by turning to the idols of the pagan nations that surrounded them and partook of their evil practices and moral corruption, He not only forgave them, He ENCOURAGED them. “‘For I know the PLANS (Hebrew – machashabah - THOUGHTS) that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘PLANS for welfare and not for calamity to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE.’” (Jeremiah 29:11) Also, among the Father’s thoughts are these words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ as He was crucified upon the cross, having been unjustly accused and rejected by the Jews: “Father, FORGIVE them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Whenever Satan plants within your heart the lie that God cannot forgive or will not forgive you, remember the truth: “He (Jesus) delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the FORGIVENESS of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

“I (Paul) urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans12: 1-2) “Transformed” is the Greek - “metamorphoo” (the English word “metamorphosis” is derived from it) and means “to change INWARDLY”. The result is a new creature. It is the process a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly. Metamorphosis does not create a better caterpillar or even a different kind of caterpillar. Rather, a new creature is born. This is what happens when we become Christians. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Salvation does not create a better man; it creates an entirely NEW man; one who is spiritually alive and created in the likeness of God. How is this done? “By the renewing of your MIND”. (Romans 1:2) The word “mind” is “nous” and is that which involves our intellect, our THINKING. It comes from the Greek “ginosko” and means to know absolutely. It denotes a personal and true relation between the person knowing and the object known to the point of being influenced by one’s knowledge of the object. In other words, if all our thoughts are centered on worldly things and worldly ideas and worldly wisdom, we will be influenced to believe as the world does. However, if our thoughts are centered on Jesus Christ and heavenly things, we will be influenced to believe the truth as taught in the Bible and as revealed by the Holy Spirit. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, LET YOUR MIND DWELL on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) What kind of gatekeepers are we? Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) Just thought you would like to know.

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