Uni-verse 137/10,000 For better through verse Philippians 4 v 8
Php 4:8 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
Somebody said that it is impossible to teach a man to think but Scripture does that precisely. The first step to making an impossible thing possible is to imagine that it is possible. Scripture likewise begins the process of inner transformation not with any cosmetic changes but with a change in our thought process. The X axis of our thought process extends to eternity and the Y-axis extends all the way to Heaven. There are no boundaries or limits. The only boundaries are set by the obsessive desire to avoid evil or blemish.
St Paul exhorts believers to focus our thoughts on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy. Thoughts become things in due course. Hence, when we focus on all things bright and beautiful, our words will become true, our intentions will become honest, our actions will become just, our motives-pure, our feelings and emotions -good, our character virtuous and our results praiseworthy. Scripture says that a man is as he thinks. Modern day psychologists corroborate it with their research and its findings. But, in the absence of illumination from Scripture and the Holy Spirit, psychiatrists, psychologists and new age philosophers lead people down a path of red herrings with blowing up partial truths to appear like whole truths or doctrines. It has misled the world and even many devout people with pop psychology as witnessed in books like " The Secret" and cults like " The Church of Scientology."
Virgil , the Roman writer wrote that "the greatest journey is the journey deep, deep within." Our thoughts can transport us into the very presence of God or to the centre of the earth or the furthest star in the universe. Our thoughts can bring the distant near and drive the near faraway. Our thoughts can discern the hidden and uncover secrets. But, the best use of our thoughts is to think the thoughts of God or to think Scripture. Many people take this uni-verse to mean an endorsement of positive thinking but throughout scripture the pattern of thinking that is exhibited is a combination of positive and negative negative(also positive) or a pattern of thinking based on " be at it " or be positive and " beat it " or beat negative. Thinking to be truly holistic must comprise of both the positive aspect of reality and negating or overcoming the negative aspects of reality. A single track like positive thinking when taken to its logical conclusion leads to illusions and delusions while mere negative thinking leads to depression and despondency. When we think both positive and negative negative, we will be able to hold our heads in the clouds but keep our feet on the ground.
Prateep V Philip
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