KEY SCRIPTURE. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

RELEVANCE

Why does the Lord, through Paul, tell us to cast down our imaginations?

Because within that hidden room of imagination lies the opportunity for iniquity. It's not all imaginations He seeks to eliminate from our spiritual systems, just the wicked ones that exalt themselves against our God, albeit for the short time we donate to it.  

What happens when we cast them down? We end up back at home in the town called Reality. We're back to being an average person who is unnoticeable to many, trying to follow the Lord.

Like Doctor Who returning from a voyage and stepping out of the Tardis, our fantasy world has disappeared.  Paul tells us that wrong imaginations are not only sinful but pointless when we look at them objectively. Whatever the imagination is—the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life—it takes us from reality. When we open that door into the realm of evil imagination, satan lures us to a place where God does not reign supreme; satan does. Therein lies the other exaltation. God expects to reign over our dream world as well.      

In Mark 7:21-23, Jesus shows where our thoughts can take us and how evil they can become. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Though wrong imaginings are sinful and impractical, they still bear fruit, though not the fruit of Christ.

The Lord wants us to use our imagination for good, spending time learning how to help people, how to be constant in prayer, or working out ways to live a holier life, or to be a more useful servant to the Church or your Pastor, and to increase our good fruit overall.

By dwelling on the things of God and then putting them into action, we can increase our personal yield from a low 10-20% to 60% or even 100% fruit for the Lord. 

Psalm 16:11 speaks about how full the joy is when we're in the Lord's presence. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

However, there is no spiritual joy when we temporarily imagine our way out of His presence. We've left His right hand, and the pleasures come from a different source.

So let's exercise our imaginations to remain on those things that bless the Lord. Praise His Holy Name. 

PRAYER

Precious Saviour, thank you for creating such a fabulous imagination. In it, I have free choice and can think what I like. However, you have also shown me the pleasures and peace of thinking the right thoughts as I come into your holy presence. Please help me to stay there. How Great Thou Art, Oh Lord. 

Photo by Kenny Eliason