Sicko

I have a sick mind. If I want to compare it to a host of worldly things, I could probably feel pretty good about what I don't do, say, or think. I could also gain a great sense of pride from that notion, and just go on dwelling in the sickness of sin and anything less than holy.

If we use the excuse, "At least I'm not as bad as ______________," we will never grow. We will never get better. We will stay sick, and in fact grow more sick with each passing justification. Spiritual sickness manifests itself in a host of ways in this world - one of them being in our mentality and attitude. Sickness is a slow death, which God warned Adam would be the ultimate result of his disobedience. The same is true for us - the ultimate result of giving over our minds to the ways of the world is death and destruction. I really do feel that, when I am not consistent in my time alone with the Lord, when I am not trading the concerns of the world for His Word, and when I am quick to meditate on fleeting, earthly things rather than the things acceptable to God. My "sick" thoughts deteriorate my attitude, my situation, and even infect other people through my relationships. Without Jesus Christ as the consistent center and antidote for my worldly condition, I am a sicko without hope for a cure. I, for one, am sick of being sick.

David speaks of this weakness and sickness of mind in Psalm 19:8-14. It is revealed to him that God is the standard of holiness and health that we should be striving for, and that His righteousness is what we should seek.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Paul brought the mental sickness of the world in us back to our attention in Romans 12:1-2:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers & sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

In Phillipians 4: 8, Paul goes into greater detail about the things we should dwell on and meditate in, the characteristics of God which He has freely shared with us:

Finally, brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Jesus is the only Way to God, and these are the characteristics of the Father that He showed us and uses to guide us home, to make us more like Him. So, will we be part of the cure? Or part of the disease?