Self Discovery Part (3 of 3)

Date of original writing: Tuesday June 21, 2005

We see our “nature” as this ever-non-changeable constant. That is not the Truth. The Truth is, we can change our nature, our self concept, our self image to adopt the nature of God. Genesis 1:26 says, “And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’ Verse 27 says, ”So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” See, we were originally made to have the nature and self image of God.

It is because we have all have been deceived to learn otherwise. Yes, I said deceived. I use that word because from the beginning of time, it has been Satan’s desire to kill, steal, and destroy our lives. He did it in the garden with Eve, and then she influenced Adam. So, early on we see this destructive pattern. For a long time I followed this pattern, being deceived by Satan in my personal life. Wanting what my flesh wanted. Wanting to please my own desires. Wanting what other people had.

When we are deceived with this attitude or mentality, we can’t but help to influence those around us with the same. It’s not intention-most of the time, but it happens in the ‘background’ of our lives. In our subconscious. It’s like the story of the frog in hot water. If you place a frog in a pot of boiling water, he will jump out because he realizes that he is in a situation that is detrimental to his survival. However, if you put a frog in a pot with water, and THEN turn on the fire underneath, he will not move. When the temperature changes, he still doesn’t move because he doesn’t recognize the temperature rising, thus, resulting in his death.

It’s the same concept with our lives. Many times we say, “Oh, if I see something negative about my friends then I will stop hanging with them” Or, “If I can identify where they are hurting my life, I will not be with them.” But the thing is, like the frog, by the time we realize were in boiling hot water, it’s usually too late. HOWEVER… THERE IS A SOLUTION! Our analogy of course, can translate to a good thing as well. If we surround ourselves with influential, God-like, positive people, then guess what, we won’t even realize when we become the same way! After all, it’s our process of nature! Remember? What we think, become our thoughts, etc... That’s how we adopt new ‘mindsets’.

So if we really think about it, from its inception, what we think, or rather, how we think, really determines our actions, and ultimately our destiny. We have the current mentality we have because of what we put into our minds. From what we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, taste with our tongue, smell with our nose, and touch with the senses in our body. That’s how thoughts come about! So for example, if we were to change what we look at, and change what we listen to, to a Godly influence, or that of Christ, we are starting the ‘nature’ or ‘self image’ process from the ground up, in a positive and effective way-the way God intended.

In conclusion, I just want to let you know that the mind of Christ is a beautiful thing to adopt. We must not get it confused with ‘being God’, for the Bible says that His thoughts are not our thoughts. This may seem somewhat contradictory at the surface level, but if we think about it, even though we were made in God’s image and likeness, we still won’t know everything! We still won’t know God’s every move. And we certainly won’t know the reason behind everything God does. That’s why He said our thoughts are not the same-because our little human minds cannot comprehend the extent of God’s greatness.