A New Vision

Jesus brought a new vision into our world. He showed us a better way. He said, "think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matt. 5:17) He walked the path to the better way. He lived with a different perspective. Jesus continued His instruction with examples. In accordance with His examples, we are guilty already for those evils in our mind though we may never have acted upon the thought. This same vision flowed forth in the wisdom of Solomon when he said, "for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Pro. 23:7) Paul repeated the message as he spoke of the "renewing" of the mind. (Romans 12:2)

I once read a book about people who had experienced a view of the next world and returned to tell about it. Each one related details about their observations. One especially caught my attention. It declared that heaven allowed no untruth. Communication was of the mind. Every thought was broadcast as if it had been spoken. When I read that, i could understand why Jesus so quickly introduced us to this concern for the mind. In this world, we trudge along thinking thoughts we never want anyone to know. In this world, we can successfully hide from others things that roam rampant in our minds. We can just keep stuffing things deeper and deeper. David prayed for cleansing from secret faults. He said, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me ..." (Psalm 19:13) David must have buried some things away in his mind only to recognize the haunting control they had upon his life. He knew they would hinder his walk with God. I think he also knew he could not put them away - he could not even recognize these "presumptious sins" without God's help.

Jesus taught recognition, self judgement, repentance, and resurrection. There is the old saying, "A stitch in time saves nine." I think Jesus wants us to continually renew our thinking. Little things along the road of life are more easily repaired if they are not stuffed away to fester. The better way of Jesus is to clean our minds and refuse the fester. The better way of Jesus is to commit unto God that which is our reasonable service and leave in His capable hands the fruit of the gift.

My recently graduated son displayed a different vision of graduation. He was blessed to receive many congratulations and best wishes gifts. He appreciated those, but he said graduation was to him an essential. He never thought he would not do it and he wasn't sure it was something for which he should be congratulated. Within the kingdom of God is found the message of mind renewal unto our reasonable service. It is our reasonable service to renew our minds unto kindness, forgiveness, faith and love. It is our reasonable service to keep our perspective focused upon the walk God has ordained, come what may of joy or sorrow. We have a big picture upon which to focus. We have life in this world until it becomes our reasonable service to cross the void and meet the challenge of perfected renewal. Paul spoke of his yearning to depart and be with Christ, but he wrote, "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." (Phil. 1:24) Paul had a vision. His reasonable service was to mankind of this earth. What God had given him to do was essential. He knew by experience that God would provide protection and blessing upon the labor. Paul's willingness was all that was needed to allow renewal to control his mind.

In I John, we read a warning about false prophets and evil spirits. We know the danger is there. We know we are engaged in a spiritual warfare. We know we fight within ourselves that teh better way might be established in our minds as well as our deeds. We are grateful for the words in I John that declare the victory ... "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)