It's What You See When You Can't See | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: It's What You See When You Can't See | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dave Walker
01/14/16
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

There is a part of man, unrestricted by time and space, that can soar past stars on a horse of light, stumble through mysterious forests, hobgoblins at his heels, hold the moon in his hand and feel the soft caress of a butterfly’s wing fluttering on his cheek.

There is nowhere a man’s imagination cannot go, nothing it cannot feel, touch, smell or see. With it he can feast with kings, commune with animals, even smell the coffee aroma of last year’s vacation to Brazil.

Yet so all-pervading was The Fall, that it has soured even that limitless and glorious facet of man. For we can choose our imaginings, but all too often we let them run free, and often, even unconsciously, we allow the subtle whisperings of the enemy of God to dictate the pictures.

A loved one is late in coming home and fear, favoured tool of Satan, conjures a nightmare of squealing tyres and bodies flung, torn and shattered; or a news report of economic downturn raises the spectre of an apologetic but unyielding boss shattering the life before him, cutting his supply line with a letter of retrenchment. And, although nothing has yet materialized -- and usually does not -- tempers become short, blood pressures rise and heart attacks kill prematurely.

Again, under sin’s enticement to sloth, visions of success become, not goads for greatness, but deceptive images that repeat, “One day…..one day……I’ll be great.” as the sluggard’s eyes close on yet another day of nothing done; and disappointment, hunger and sickness stalk those around him.

Furthermore, without the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, our imagination becomes a mere plaything to entertain us and indulge our dark fantasies, sometimes urging us to act them out with devastating consequences.

Yet, what a marvelous, holy tool it is in the hands of God. It shows us the invisible, etching in colour, the abstract, taking dry, lifeless intellectual understanding and sweeping it down to a beating heart that quickens at the flaming images. Many a learned scholar would drily assent that Christ died for our sin, but the man who sees his sin upon Jesus’ torn and bleeding body and feels His warm blood washing him clean as it drips from the Cross, is forever transformed.

Though God is invisible, when once a man sees His hand, at the start of creation, sweeping across the skies leaving a million billion galaxies in its wake, how he will worship Him.

Imagination is a delightful thing, a terrifying thing, a wild thing… but a holy thing. Left unfettered though, like a horse released to the wilds to run unhindered, it becomes feral often paralyzing its owner with thoughts of what might happen. It must be corralled once more and trained to be useful. It must be subjected to the will of its owner in accordance with the plans of its Great Designer. It must be used to see invisible truths; to generate feelings of love which spur us into expressing them in acts of kindness.

Paul urges us to “cast down every imagination ….that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” (2Cor 10:5)

It starts with the will. As Christ’s followers, we must resolve to tame our imagination and train it to see the truths we cannot see, to nurture love, not fear; to stir to greater things, not lull us to sleep with its dreams. Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, let it be our conscious resolution to think on these things, letting our imagination soar into the rich beauty of all that a loving God wants to bless us with.

Imagine…. Your Father so delighted in you that He bursts into song at the sight of you. (Zeph 3:17)

Imagine…..Your pain and tears, your physical disabilities dissolved and healed in the presence of God. (Phil 3:21, Rev 7:17)

Imagine….. being surprised by blessing upon unexpected blessing by a generous God who loves to give, because that is what love does. (1Cor 2:9)

Imagine….Jesus, your Best Friend walking with you wherever you go; warm and generous, comfortable to be with, understanding and ready to help. (Prov. 18:24)

Like anything worthwhile it takes an act of faith, but if one resolves to tame the imagination, leading it to dwell on such things, the peace of God, which passes all understanding will flood your heart and mind with the knowledge of God.

For even our imagination is designed for His glory.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.