A Sanctified imagination
Blog Written by Mark Morris, Retired Pastor, MO
Many years ago, A.W. Tozer wrote an essay entitled “A Sanctified Imagination”.
In that essay Tozer talked of how the Pharisees were very strict keepers of the law. But yet they had no imagination in life. Everything had to have a rule or letter to justify all their actions and their reactions.
What a boring life it would be if we were asked of God to rid ourselves of our imagination. Having an imagination is a part of being created in the image of God. All of creation shows us the great imagination of God. From flowers to the magnificent oceans and the mountains are what God thought or imagined and then spoke into existence.
Imagination is a simple process of thinking about things that are not and how they can become real.
The architecture of our beautiful church sanctuary was birthed through someone's imagination. The car we drive to worship in our beautiful sanctuaries also started in someone's imagination. So, our imaginations are a very real part of our being.
The Bible tells us of the dangers of an evil imagination. Romans 1:21 Tells of how the people became “Vain in their Imagination”. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 teaches us to cast down imaginations that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Our challenge as classic age children of God is to keep our imagination sanctified. How can we do this? Phil 4:8 gives us a list of things to think on, “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 virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
It's easy to imagine the negative things that are happening all around us. Too many times we dwell on things that are not even happening, nor will they ever affect us, and we create a sense and a feeling of dread and fear.
We live in an ever-changing world. Our culture is no longer the way we knew it during our younger years. Often, we hear people talk of how they fear for their grandchildren growing up in the world today. We cannot let our imagination run wild concerning the ever-changing society in which live.
However, let us imagine God using us to bring about the greatest harvest of souls in church history. Let's imagine us being influencers of the next generation of godly church leaders. Let's imagine the church on fire for a great end time revival.
Instead of a pharisee type of outlook on life, let's imagine the colorful things and the powerful things of God.
Let's have a sanctified imagination.