Thoughts fly in and out of our subconscious like bats from a cave. This wouldn’t be such a concern if our subconscious were not the base of operation for our carnal mind. Given that 95% of our thinking is off the radar of our conscious awareness, it is important that we force ourselves to make conscious decisions regarding the ways of this world which potentially contradict the principles of the kingdom and the commands of Christ.
Many times, reasoning drives us to compromise, and we find ourselves trying to live from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – a poor substitute for the Tree of Life. When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, mankind’s ability to reason was forever tied to the rebellion which separated us from God.
Each one of us is born into this rebellion and its result, our incredible self-centeredness. Just ask any parent. We are subsequently trained – through grammar school, middle school, and high school – to rely on our reasoning capabilities. In college, we are convinced that mankind’s ability to reason is worthy of worship. We have grown up into the Age of Reason and its doctrines.
Thankfully, 95% is not a fixed number. In fact, Christians are commanded to actively expose what naturally remains hidden. We are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2Corinthians 10:5) – a discipline required for the renewing of our minds.
There are several methods of capture, each with their own measure of effectiveness. Most attempt to capture thoughts with a butterfly net, as they fly by our consciousness like bats. We eventually learn that method is not very effective. Others try securing a net over the cave opening, attempting to trap their carnal thoughts before they get out. But nets tear and those pesky bats have a way of finding other openings. All the while, Satan and the world are busy digging new ones.
The best way to capture thoughts is by seeking them out and clearing the cave. It’s best to face our fears and the messiness of our caves with the light of God’s word and the fire that consumes deception and deceit. He is that fire, and He is standing by to wade into the battle with us. He will guide us to the bats that most need our attention.
We must resist the temptation to ignore the inconvenient and intimidating bats. We must refuse distraction. We must capture and deal with the ones revealed; and then move on to the next cavern of our subconscious.
This is the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2) for our transformation and ongoing salvation, the striving to enter through the narrow gate, and the faithful march down the difficult path which leads to eternal life.
What must we do to participate with God in this endeavor? The answer should not surprise: We must repent and believe. Repent means “to change one’s mind…”.
Believe includes the hearing of faith (“go into that chamber”), obedience to the faith (“kill that bat”), and the work of faith (“now, speak, walk, and work differently”). These two – repent and believe – work together to sanctify us for the normal Christian life.
Where do we start? A good place to start is with the commands of Jesus that most conflict with the world around us. Believe me, there are plenty of candidates. The Holy Spirit will lead us to the more important ones.
Here are a few examples of commands often ignored or compromised in the Western Church:
- Store up in heaven and not on the earth
- Turn the other cheek
- Take no thought for tomorrow
Warning: Do not fall for the deception your carnal mind throws at you. Instead of accepting that Jesus’ commands are impossible (like giant hairy bats), consider, “How do I change my thinking to positively respond to God’s desire for my freedom?”
“Taking no thought for tomorrow” is a good example. Why do we think so much about tomorrow? How should we think differently about tomorrow? Is every thought about tomorrow wrong, or just the one’s Jesus cites?
These questions are discussion starters for our time with God. They represent a leaning into His will, a desire to know the mind of Christ, and a willingness to participate with the Holy Spirit in our transformation. The Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit will respond with answers, wrapped in the expressions of their pleasure.
God bless you with courage to enter your subconscious caverns; and grace to exterminate the bats you find there.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Rob