Thoughts

 Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

     Second Corinthians 10:5 says, “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;”

     I recently went to the eye doctor for a three month examination and he asked me if there were any differences in my vision.  I said that  every now and then, I would see a peacock tail of red circles with a background of blue.  It  is mostly in a dark area of the TV or on the rug, which is a dark color.  I have a dead spot on the right eye due to macular degeneration and I guess it is primarily in that eye.  The doctor said that the brain will substitute something at times which really isn’t there.  The imagination can produce things that are not really there.

     The word for imaginations in the above passage is “logismos” and is connected to “thoughts.”   It  is only used in t two places in the New Testament.  Here in Second Corinthians and in Romans 2:15 where it is translated as “thoughts.”  We often use the term “logic” to refer to a pattern of thinking where if one thing is true, then the another thing might be also true.  We say, “It just seems logical.”  We can think, “if that person doesn’t like me then there must be others who don’t like me also.”  Or, “if such and such took place, then the logical outcome will be bad.”  The problem is the latter part of the verse where we fail to bring our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  Imaginations can produce all kinds of negative thoughts  based on one’s false assumptions.  We can look at a person’s frown and immediately assume that  they are frowning at us based upon a wrong assumption.  I once grimaced in pain while getting out of a car after hitting my knee on the edge of the car door, and a woman next  door assumed that I was frowning at her, resulting  in her being irritated with me until  the matter was explained.  What  we imagine rarely comes to pass as our imaginations will often exceed reality.  We find ourselves making mountains out of mole hills.  I often refer to the verse in Philippians 4:8 which says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  I often find that  my mouth often gets me into trouble when i speak something without thinking first.  For that reason, I used to have this verse printed out and placed  where I could see it after every message as a reminder to bring my thoughts together in Christ  before I say anything.  Praise God today that  He knows our thoughts and the very intents of our hearts.