Genesis 6:5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  NKJV

 

I readily concur with those who would caution about “imaginations” but is there a place for using our “imagination” biblically, rightly, and in a way that is encouraged by God and scripture?  There is a tremendous cloud of suspicion over any thought or suggestion of using our IMAGINATION because of the abuse and misuse by followers of the New Age philosophy and in much of postmodern thought.  This word falls into the same category as “mediation” because of some Eastern Religions.  Let me ask, are we as the Body of Christ to be robbed of something God has given that can be and is good when rightly used and applied because of the existence of perversions?

God has given each person the POWER TO IMAGINE.  Our minds are like computers and every thought that flows through it, and every image you create is indelibly inscribed on the cells of your brain.  You can sit now and recall events of years past and see them with clarity and even feel them.  Your mind plays them back like scenes on a motion picture screen.  Often, they are so vivid you almost believe them real.

What is IMAGINATION?  Webster’s Dictionary defines it as, “The act of creating mental images of what has never been actually experienced.”  Now, let me ask, “What do you think God thinks about our ability to imagine?”  I want to conduct a quick experiment as an illustration if you will indulge me.

“Imagine a beautiful lake with the sun shimmering on the water, trees and flowers lining the shore.  Close your eyes, can you see it?  Now picture a garden filled with flowers of every color of the rainbow?  Can you see it?  Now, think of a giant tree that reaches to the sky like a skyscraper.  Then picture your favorite meal and you can almost smell the aroma it is so vivid.  Well, it is for most people.

             You may never have painted a picture and have almost zero artistic talent.  You may never have planted a garden, grown any plants or build any type of structure, yet in your mind, you can create them with perfection.  That brings us to some questions.

• Why can we IMAGINE things?
• Where does the power or ability come from?
• Is it right or wrong, good or evil?

           You and I were created in the Image of God and we are His special treasures. He created each of us with far more talent and ability than we have ever dreamed.  Most of us have not tapped into the depths of what is found in the reservoir of our lives but it is there waiting to be tapped into. If you let your mind wander for even a few minutes you realize just how powerful your Imagination is.  I suggest that God values our ability to Imagine more than we because He created us with that ability for a reason and purpose.

Jesus, in His earthly ministry and life, demonstrated the control that God intended man to have.  Jesus could see beyond the natural.  He saw the coin in the mouth of the fish that Peter caught and took the coin to pay their tribute. He saw the pots of water becoming wine and saw the few fish and loaves multiplying to feed the masses.  Jesus, according to John 5:19 never did anything until He first SAW the Father do it.  Only when our ability to SEE gets linked with God’s power to CREATE do we see miracles and they happen because that is what God originally intended to happen.

Back to the beginning, “What Is God’s Attitude toward Our Imagination?”   What a wonderful place to pause until next time.  God bless you and may He guard and guide you go you go through this day in Him.