“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jer. 17:5)
The revelation of the Scriptures, from the Holy Spirit to our human spirit, is what should draw our conscience to the will of God, to His truths in His Word.
I ask you this, do you do more than just listen to the sermon on Sunday morning, do you only read the Scriptures, or do you apply them not just in your life and when you meet other people, but to your conscience? Is your mind, your thought processes, the way you think on a daily basis, being changed, or do you simply listen and read and then go about your business in the world?
A renewing of our mind, the continuing fulfilment of Romans 12:2 means just that. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” A mind that does not think the way it used to, not just in the way that it views sin, but the very thought of sin being detestable to us.
It was explained to us in Romans 7:25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” An almost form of duality within us, the mind, our thoughts being transformed by the Holy Spirit as He guides and directs us, while at the same time our flesh, that secondary part of our mind if you will, desiring the things of the world and all it has to offer.
Consider these truths as you contemplate 1st Corinthians 15:50, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” That part of us, that part of our mind, out thoughts that are not pleasing to the Lord, that desire the things of the flesh will be gone, removed when we are glorified, and as much as this poor student of the Scriptures can determine, that will be before we enter into heaven. It will avail us little to give that account after that blessed moment, for then we will not see through that glass darkly any longer, we will comprehend and understand just why we were as we are now, in a continual, never-ending battle within our mind until that moment the one part of it will be removed.
What the Holy Spirit is attempting to do is to show us the mind that serves and loves the Lord, to grow that part of us, to transform us, while allowing us the free will that all men are born with to begin denying within ourselves the mind of the flesh. The Almighty does not force virtue on any of us, we must want to be transformed, we must consciously put forth the effort, we must control our thoughts.
There is a very old children’s song that has the line in it, “Be careful little eyes what you see.” I add this to it, be careful with your mind, what you think.
Unless you are not only grounded in the truths of the Scriptures, but also seeking to grow in His grace and knowledge each day, your mind will wander, you know this for a fact.
The mind that contemplates Christ can be directed by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God, but the desire to do so must come from us. Again, I reiterate, you must have the desire, for the Holy Spirit will not infringe upon your free will. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Prov. 8:17)
You will give an account, even of your thoughts.
