THINKING ABOUT GOD
Our actions are a result of the things that we have filled our minds with on a regular basis. Whether speaking about a congregation or an individual, we sometimes wonder why certain choices were made. Ephesus as a congregation had left its first love (Revelation 2:4). Sardis did not have a good record as per the works they should have been involved in as the church (Revelation 3:2). Hymeneaeus and Alexander had left the faith to such a point that Paul gave them up to their desires to serve Satan (I Timothy 1:19,20). We often see across a spiritual landscape those who choose to walk away from God.
There may be in the mind or thinking of individual many causes for such departures. The purpose of this article is not to address the many reasons which people give but rather to go back to a foundation type problem. As Jesus concluded his teachings of what is called the Sermon on the Mount, He used the example of building a house on a rock and on the sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Here the truth is about correct building on the right foundation. Look carefully at how Jesus began this example. The person who continues to understand the will of the Lord and continues to do the will of the Lord is the wise man building his house on a rock (Matthew 7:24).
Following Christ then is not just coming to a truth about one’s life but rather it is a growing desire to live one’s life after Christ. The example used by Jesus about a man counting the cost before he builds a tower is about life’s choices and not about architect (Luke 14:28). Many may say they would like to build a tower but there must be a willingness to finish otherwise we invite others to mock what we have started. Such willingness is born from the attitude of heart which says I will seek those things which are above (Colossians 3:1). There is not a paying of “lip service” but a molding of an entire life after the example of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ (I Peter 2:21).
This molding of a life is because God is what a person thinks about with the whole of his being. David speaks about the wicked man who brags about his heart’s desire (Psalm 10:3). The wicked man, says David, blesses or praises those who are covetous, that is just like him. Because of the power of pride in his heart the wicked man does not seek after God (verse 4). David then adds to that a truth of equal value. The wicked man does not have God in his thoughts at all. He does not seek God nor is God in his thoughts. Let us change the position of those two ideas for emphasis sake. He does not think about God nor does he seek God.
Paul spoke about the Gentile world that was operating without the written revelation from God. The creation itself serves as a witness to all men at all time that there is a God (Romans 1:20). Paul states about that Gentile world, that they “…did not like to retain God in their knowledge…” (Romans 1:28). There is a moral argument for the existence of God which is in humanity but not present in the animal world. Humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Even though the Gentile world was without written revelation they understood that those who commit such things are worthy of death (Romans 1:32). In this sense they chose to not have God in their knowledge.
Again going back to the principle of foundation, the origin of such choices is that they “did not like” to retain God in their knowledge. The thoughts of God that modify the behavior are not thoughts which the wicked man enjoys entertaining in his mind. David’s statement was that the wicked man brags about his heart’s desire. He can have whatever he wants because no one is going to tell him what to do. Such an attitude excludes God. When an individual chooses to think about God on a regular basis it will change the way he acts. It may be just a moral change but hopefully a spiritual change. Those then who choose to obey Christ by being baptized for the remission of sins, arise from the watery grave of baptism to seek the things which are above (Colossians 3:1). This then is both a moral and spiritual change.
How does it continue so that one will throughout their life walk in the light as revealed in Jesus? (I John 1:7). It continues when we invest time, energy, effort and ability to think about God, daily. Have you talked to Him about whom you think, today?