As we struggle in attempts to form a message for the world, it is increasingly obvious just how different the mind with God’s Spirit is to the mind of the world. Of course, we know that – at least intellectually. But it becomes hard reality when trying to create a message based on God’s truth for a non-church audience.
The process affords us the opportunity to appreciate how important the mind is to God and what He is creating. The mind of a person is probably the most important thing about human life from God’s perspective. God is concerned about how we think.
Scripture places a heavy emphasis on the law of God. As King David expressed, “Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments” (Psalm 119:166). Is God’s main concern that He wants a group of people who do what He tells them to do? Are God’s laws and God’s instructions an end in themselves? Certainly, we must do the right things and obey God’s laws. Obedience, though, is only the beginning.
God is far more concerned with how we think than the physical actions of obeying His laws. “…But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). It is a certain frame of mind God is looking for. That right frame of mind will be in submission to God’s laws and instructions. “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
One does not have to have a renewed mind to comply with physical laws. There are many people who try to adhere to God’s laws who do not have renewed minds. They have not experienced real and true repentance.
In determining to create a spiritual family, it is God’s intention to create beings who think in the same way He does. People who would have the same outlook, viewpoint, and perspective of life that He has – people with minds created in His image.
Think about the implications of Solomon’s statement: “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The body decays but the spirit in man – which forms the mind – returns to God who gave it. It is the mind which is central to the resurrection. The new spirit body will house the godly mind developed in this life. It will be molded, formed, shaped and renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This mind doesn’t seek to do what it has to in order to please God. It is motivated by the desire to do everything that is God’s will. It doesn’t ask, “What do I have to do?” – it asks, “What does God like me to do?”. It is motivated by a passion to please Him. “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).
Our renewed minds are not to walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5).
The minds of people in this world – all the minds on the good to evil spectrum – are fueled by an enmity against God and a refusal to be subject to His law.
We should be very grateful for the God-given ability to have a mind that knows God.
We must do our best to frame messages that demonstrate God’s mind to the world. And we must also allow that any effective witness will be by the hand of God. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Brian Orchard
