Just a Thought!
Just a Thought!
Jack Shuler
As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”—Prov. 23:7.
Modern psychology dresses an ancient truth in modern garments when it declares, “Thoughts running over the same mental track repeatedly, groove themselves to permanency.” Psychology only reiterates a fact voiced centuries ago when Israel’s king, under divine inspiration, said of man,
“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Scientific research has often sought out its own way; but invariably it finds that its way finally converges with the ways of God, whose ways are of old, changeless and everlasting.
Every thought we think leaves its impression on the cortex (the thinking matter) of the brain. If we think the same thought twice, the impression becomes more pronounced. If we think the same thought constantly, the impression becomes a veritable rut and it becomes increasingly difficult to reroute our thinking.
Our stream of thought, like the churning waters of the Colorado through the Grand Canyon, digs away at the strata of nerve tissue until a mighty chasm with insurmountable walls is fashioned to hold the thought captive. As a man at first is master of his thought, so, at last, the thought becomes master of the man. Men are molded by their thoughts. Big ideas make big men; shallow thinking results in shallow character.
It is said that during his early years David Livingstone had a large map of Africa on his bedroom wall. Africa became his very life, long before he became a missionary. And in quest of the lost, he lived and died in the tangled jungles of that land.
Where man’s treasure is, there will his heart be also. Thoughts make men! It is small wonder that Paul exhorts,
“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” (Phil. 4:8).
Have you discovered the value of right thinking? Banished Cain, disgraced Lot, sightless Samson, pitiful Saul, murdered Haman, remorseful Judas, frustrated Pilate— all bear testimony to the fact that a man’s thoughts may prove his embarrassment.
Honored Abel, favored Abraham, exalted Joseph, victorious Joshua, renowned Daniel, the famed eleven, immortal Paul lend as strong a tribute to the fact that a man’s thoughts may prove his highest virtue.
Turn your eyes toward early Christianity to discover the secret of its virility and strength in those days when infant churches were making inroads into every strong hold of evil in city, province, state and nation. Out of those glorious years came the admonition of an early advocate.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth.”— Col. 3:1,2.
The oracle’s appeal is imperative. True Christianity can never be divorced from spiritual affection. The relationship of a man’s soul to God is best evidenced by those things which get that man’s attention.
“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he”!
