Minding Your Thoughts
A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life
Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Some contend that this verse is a promise to Israel and their return to the Promise Land, some think it is a prophecy concerning the church age, and others believe it is speaking literally about a new heaven and a new earth. There are good arguments for each position. Being a person that always ascribes to the philosophy of, “When the Bible makes common sense seek no other sense,” it makes sense that He is speaking of a time to come. A time that John speaks of in Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. In fact, two verses later in Revelation 21:4 it is recorded: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Regardless of the timing of the above promise, one thing is clear: God can cleanse the mind and cause us to forget. In this life this is a gift of God that takes place in a measure. Many of God’s children have experienced things that are impossible to forget. However, God can cause these things to …not be remembered, nor come into mind. He has a way to replace things in our mind so that our focus is on the new and wonderful things He has given to us or performed on our behalf. These make bad memories just distant recollections. Perhaps this is part of what the hymnist was speaking about when writing, “The longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows.”
Learn to put hurtful thoughts in His hands. He is able; able to renew, refresh, and recharge our minds. Today spiritually and physically, and someday, perhaps in the not too far future, He will create a new heaven and new earth, and there He will renew our minds literally and for all time.
May the Lord Bless and be pleased with your thought life today.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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