YOU CAN'T BE TEMPTED BY WHAT YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT (PART 1)
TEXT
"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned." (Hebrews 11 verse 15, King James Version).
It's amazing to know that sin and the temptation to sin have a direct bearing on the thought life. The mind is known to be the seat of emotions. It's generally agreed that almost all of man's actions are first and foremost conceived in the mind before they become translated to actions. James 1 verses 14 to 15 informs us that "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
All through human relationship with God, the mind as the seat of emotions has been a very active organ by which humanity has perpetrated disobedience to the Almighty. With it, we conceive evil and vain thoughts. It's been the place of conception of lust before it translates to sin and death. The order of events with regards to man’s disobedience to God as was shown in the case of Achan in Joshua 7 verse 21 has always been, “I saw… I coveted … and took … and hid …” In Achan’s case for instance, it was in his mind that he “coveted” the Babylonish garment, the taking of which was sinful.
What this means in essence is that you can't be tempted by what you don't think about. Most times, we seek to control our actions without realizing that actions are directly connected to the way we think. Our efforts should rather be geared towards the control of our thoughts before they become actions. We are familiar with the Scripture that says that as a man thinks in his heart, so he is (Proverbs 23 verse 7). But we hardly realize that we cannot afford the luxury of giving thought to certain things that are inimical to the progress of our Christian faith.
The Scripture reading for today says that if Abraham and Sarah had been mindful of the country they came from, they would have been tempted to return to it. Taking a look at the rendering of Hebrews 11 verse 15 by other Bible versions will help us to understand what the Holy Spirit is saying to us. For instance, the English Standard Version has it rendered as follows:
“If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.” Many translations have the word "thinking" substituted for "mindful". What this means to us is that we should be wary about what we think. Dwelling on the past through thoughts can open the door to backsliding! We know that it was when Israel remembered "the fish, the cucumbers, the melons, and the leeks and the onions and the garlick" which they ate in Egypt freely that they longed to return to the land of bondage and slavery. (Numbers 11 verse 5). “Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.”, says Ecclesiastes 7 verse 10.
Another Bible translation of the same Hebrews 11 verse 15 warns against speaking about the past. The Contemporary English Version, considering the faith of Abraham and Sarah puts it as follows:
"If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time.". These Patriarch and Matriarch refused to talk about the land they left behind. Instead, they had their focus on what was ahead of them. Had they done otherwise, the Bible says that "they would have had opportunity to return.”
Are you the type that is fond of talking about your past? Stop doing it because it can lead you to the temptation to renege or go back on your Christian faith. We know that God does not delight in backsliders. The Bible says in Hebrews 10 verses 38 to 39:
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
Learn forthwith that whatever it is that you left behind before you came into Christ isn't worth thinking or talking about. Doing so may lead you into temptation and eventually, to sin against the Lord.
PRAYER:
Father, I'm on my way forward to meeting with you.I refuse to look back, in Jesus name.