Vain Imaginations

    “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21 KJV

     The Greek word for imagination is phantasia, where we get the word fantasy, sound familiar? From the land of Disney, where fantasies are produced to fill the young minds of our children. Imagination is not necessarily a bad thing unless it begins to cloud our reality with that which leads us astray from the truth of God's word.

    Our natural imagination can be very productive when used to create things, such as art, inventions and even when writing about God's word, but when imagination turns to fantasy it becomes a vain and evil distraction! This is where the devil attacks our minds with fear, doubt and unbelief. An example of his schemes is when you receive a diagnosis or you are experiencing a symptom, your mind begins to conjure up (definition- to call upon a spirit) all kinds of devastating results until you are overwhelmed with fear that leads to terror!

    Fear is the enemy of faith and when you are believing God for healing the devil attacks your mind with vain imaginations to destroy your faith in God's word! The battleground of the believer is the mind where imagination begins, either good or bad! 

     But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. II Corinthians 11:3

 IMAGINE

     "Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try, no hell below us, only sky." Imagine-John Lennon, 1971

     Subtle lyrics to sway your judgment and lead you into "Fantasy-land!" "No rules, just right," as the slogan says, think of all the people who worshiped the idols of rock that took this lyric to heart as well as the other millions of songs that fill the mind with vain imaginations!

    Back in the day when LSD and other psychedelic drugs became fashionable the minds of thousands were opened to demonic possession and some died, and others never came back such as Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd! So much talent given over to the devil to use in his schemes to destroy God's creations!

    If you have allowed the devil to control you or dominate your mind with vain imaginations, then do this: repent and ask God to cleanse your thought life with His blood and bind up those thoughts and loose them into dry places! Begin to commit your mind to God and establish the mind of Christ, inventory the thoughts that enter and take captive those that are sent as flaming missiles from the enemy!

    Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7,8

 OUR WEAPONS OF WAR

     For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. II Corinthians 10:4,5

     We don't wage war with flesh and blood but against the unseen forces of darkness. The powers of darkness have been attacking mankind for thousands of years, robbing, killing and destroying millions of unsuspecting victims. In order for one to defeat them you must discipline yourselves to use the weapons you were given!

    One of your most powerful weapons is the sword of the Lord, the word of the living God. To use it effectively one must study it, meditate on it and fill your mind and heart with it so as to force vain imaginations out! When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness the devil tried to get Him to doubt who He was, but Jesus used His sword, the Word of God to defeat him; but beware and be on the alert because the devil knows the word better than you and will use it against you as he did with Jesus!

    Today we have a multitude of enemies to deal with as everything is geared to distract you, enlighten you and fill your mind with that which is vain and worthless. The Internet and your cell phone are two of the most destructive tools of the devil when allowed to feed your thought life! God has given us armor, weapons and the Holy Spirit to guide us, but you have to choose whether you will be diligent to use them and to fight your enemies because many have refused to fight!

     Above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts (vain imaginations) of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation (knowing who you are in Christ) and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:16,17

 Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ