“A Mind and a Heart”

"A Mind and a Heart"

    Many unbelieving scientists contend that human consciousness evolved from unconscious matter.  In their view, naturalistic processes created the capacity for self and world awareness.  Most people find this completely counterintuitive and perceive that that someone possessed with the capacity for consciousness made human beings with the same capability.  They may or may not attribute the gift of consciousness to the God of Scripture, but they perceive consciousness as something obviously more complex than the mere collection of matter resident in a brain.

    "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding" (Job 32:8).

   It is hard to imagine a greater absurdity than the notion that an unconscious universe somehow produced creatures who know, think, reason, and even communicate their awareness.  A mindless universe somehow resulted in mindful human beings.  A thing that does not know it exists - the universe - produced a being that does know it exists.  I know, you're shaking your head right now as the absurdity slithers through your, yes, through your consciousness.  However, multitudes in our generation believe the proposition to be the truth.  They are perfectly comfortable with the notion of the mindless having made the mindful.  "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God" (Psalm 10:4).  

    For those who do believe that our consciousness is the product of God's making, a great blessing and challenge lie before us.  He made us to use our awareness for the purpose of knowing things, and most importantly, of knowing other conscious beings.  Certainly this begins with God, who formed us for relationship with Himself.  "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).  We then proceed to the knowledge of other people: "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (I John 1:3).  Such loving devotion to God and others leads to the proper knowledge of ourselves as the vessels of His others-focused love.  "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).  What a gift, to be God-aware, others-aware, and self-aware, and to use and enjoy our consciousness in the personal terms for which the Lord made it.  But what a challenge also.  Again, some people exercise their capacity to deny its very origin and nature.  Moreover, those who acknowledge God sometimes misuse our capacity for consciousness, as tempted by the world, the flesh, and the devil.  We thus do well to consistently acknowledge the wonder of the gift, and devote it to our Lord for His enabling to rightly know, Him, others, and ourselves.  Yes, a Mind made us, a Mind guided by a glorious Heart.  May we exercise our own to ponder Him, bless others, and perceive ourselves as wondrously gifted by the God who knows, and who enables us to know.

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him."

(Proverbs 3:6)

"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."

(Philippians 4:8)

Weekly Memory Verse

     For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6)