Mission Monthly Newsletter July 2000

...Meditate on These Things. Phillipians 4.8

"Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."

Author Unknown

Research has shown how deeply influential the impressions of new life are upon a new born baby.  Most experts say that the experiences of the first three years of life define the make-up of our entire personality.  If true, this “science” is of great concern for all of us who are responsible for the lives of young children; it is of particular interest to me as an expectant father.  Thankfully the building blocks of development continue to be set throughout the entirety of one’s life.  My concern stretches far beyond my own child and into the lives of all ages in coming to an awareness of the fluidity of life.  We are always building, growing, learning, changing.  The question here is: In what way?

     One of the greatest points of wisdom upon which Holy Scripture is founded, through the grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is the depth of understanding of human spiritual and intellectual development.  The scripture is filled with examples of man’s incomplete knowledge and understanding, be it through his own simplicity and lack of learning or by the direct intent of God [cf. John 12:40].  As Jesus came to Peter at the washing of the disciple’s feet He responded to Peter’s protest by saying, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand” (John 13:8).  It is a blessing of our nature to have the ability to grow into greater and greater understanding and knowledge, incorporating into our very beings the experiences of thought and behavior.  Each moment builds upon all previous moments, giving us the opportunity, with wisdom, to come closer and closer to perfecting the image of Christ present in the birth of every man.

     What we must be intently aware of is that the opposite is also true.  It is therefore up to us, through our God given free-will, to make God’s way our own.  Just as godly thoughts lead to godly actions, and godly actions to godly character, so too sinful thoughts, if left unrepentant, lead to sinful actions and character.

     One would think that this would be obvious and therefore lead a man to godly attitudes and desires.  This, however, is the core of man’s spiritual warfare.  The momentary rebellion of the fall of Adam has left man predisposed to rebelliousness and short-sighted (if not blind) to the ways of God.  The primary significance to this discussion is the graduation of behaviors, both good and bad, which must challenge us to vigilant self-examination.  We live in a world that is constantly inciting our tendencies towards vanity, selfishness, personal entitlement, sexual indulgence, self-importance and justification.  Beyond this I am seriously concerned by how the devil is further deceiving our modern “enlightened” culture into virtually a complete ignorance (certainly a dangerous disregard) of the concept of consequences.  The “art” of tattooing comes to mind as I consider a tattoo’s painful application, permanence and, in time of regret, painful removal.  This is an outward imagery of the less visible process, consequence and repentance of sin.  There is also the matter of shortsightedness: will what seems “cool” today remain so ten years, or even ten months, from now?  What is clear is that the decisions we make today will absolutely affect the world we live in tomorrow.  The words we speak, the choices we make, the thoughts we have and the actions we take leave indelible imprints upon our hearts and souls, and sometimes our bodies as well.  This foundational truth of personal development must remain present in our consciousness if we ever hope, with God’s help, to make ours a godly destiny.  He has not left us hopeless and unable to change.  May we know a sincere desire to “stand in the grace of God and rejoice in our hope of sharing in His glory” (Rom. 5:2).