In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
Summary: The mind and the conscience are like the steering wheel and the brake on a car. They each have important functions. If they don’t work properly, the car is not safe to drive. The same is true for people.
Imagine getting into your car only to discover the steering wheel broken, and the brakes don’t work. How far would you be willing to drive it that way?
Yeah. Me, neither.
Our mind is the steering wheel of our life. The conscience is the brake pedal. If they are both corrupted, a person will have a hard time finding their way through life, let alone from one end of the street to the other.
Paul has been describing why a church needs someone who can ensure that believers adhere to sound doctrine. Some people are not content to accept the Gospel as revealed by Jesus. Instead, they need to add something to it or take something away. Paul calls this “corruption.”
When a corrupted mind can no longer recognize truth it becomes lost in the corridor of infinite possibilities. Each door leads to a room filled with interesting ideas. Each idea fascinates the mind, teasing it with one possibility after another. Each new idea is more elaborate than the last. Unfortunately, possibilities are just that: a possibility. They are not reality. The corrupted mind can no longer distinguish between the two. The corridor of possibility is like Hotel California: “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”
The conscience, of course, is the “brake” that is supposed to keep the mind from wandering too far from the road. When we stray too far from the path of the upright, the conscience slows us down so we have time to think better of what we are doing. If we listen to our conscience and turn away from the road to perdition, the conscience works better and better. If we ride the brakes while we continue down the wrong path, the brake pads heat up, glaze over, and become hardened. Soon they offer no resistance at all.
When this happens to a person’s mind and conscience, they no longer notice when they have crossed the line. At the same time, they do not understand why everyone else should not follow them on their path.
When our mind and conscience function as they were intended, we can recognize God when he taps us on the shoulder. We stop when we cross the line into behavior that hurts others and ourselves. We look for ways to go the other direction, towards God. The corrupted mind cannot do that, and it does not even know why.
Application: Beware of the people that Paul describes. They are real. Understand that the reason they say and do certain things is that their steering wheel and brakes are broken.
Food for Thought: How can a believer protect themselves from those who are corrupted?
Great, now I have the song Hotel California stuck in my mind 😉.
To the question, I think the Apostle Paul gave some good advice in Ephesians 6: 10 – 18.
Sorry about that! The connection was too good to pass up though. 🙂
How can a believer protect themselves from those who are corrupted?
For some the cost of becoming a Christian was very high. They could loose their families and be called by God to separate from all their friends. Called out of the world and into the kingdom of God by God. It could be costly but the life given to by God is priceless. You get a bible, and God will lead you to a bible based church. Maybe you try a couple but you will know the right one when you get there. Bible study becomes important and you spend more and more time with God as you study His word with other men and discuss the truths being taught.
You learn the Bible is like a bright flashlight at night, helps us to see where we are going and stay on the right path. Bad company will corrupt good morals, we need to guard our changed hearts, and that all will reap what they soy.
Psalm 119:105, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Proverbs 4:23, Galatians 6:8
At some point the lights go on as Jesus explains it all in one simple verse, Luke 6:3, DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO UNTO YOU, and we begin to do this. There is only one way to do this and that is to increasingly give ourselves to God, allow Him to transform us in to christlike beings as the Holy Spirit serves others through us. There is no greater, rewarding calling than to serve God. Greet others at the door to the local church, take nursery duty, lead a new members class, or an adult Sunday school, home bible studies, and then allow Christ to bring others to Him through you. Minister to others in all you do.
Once we have begun the process of fully giving ourselves to God, establishing a life in humble obedience, in service to His will, there is no turning back. There is nothing in this world that can replace the pleasure we receive from submission to God in service.
Ron,
Great meditation on today’s question. Thank you!
Keep our minds fixed on Jesus,..it’s just that simple,..you can check out anytime you like, but He will never leave,..
Nice, John!
The poet has spoken!! 🙂
👍🏻