By: John Mitchell
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). God is the Creator, and we are the created. Or, are we, the created, creating in our minds a different god, from the God who created us? When we read the Bible, if we think to ourselves, “I don’t agree with that Scripture. If I were God, I certainly would not say that.” We are starting to create, in our mind, the type of God, that we think God should be, according to our own image, and likeness. Also, if we don’t like a Scripture, we may think, “I can’t accept that Scripture, it must be wrong. Maybe it was translated wrongly by mistake.” With the reasonings of a carnal mind, we are step by step, and doubt by doubt, creating in our mind, an idol of a false god, that is acceptable to us. It’s not a matter of what is acceptable to me or you; it’s a matter of what is acceptable to God. When we don’t accept the words of the Bible to be God’s true and inerrant words to us, we are saying, that God doesn’t have the knowledge, wisdom, or understanding, to be able to know what is best for us. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). DOUBT DESTROYS FAITH. For example, if a spiritually minded person reads a Scripture about how to follow and obey God, that he doesn’t fully understand at that time, he doesn’t doubt or question the truth of God’s inspired Word. He would not say anything that would question the truth of any Scripture. He would say, “I KNOW that God is all knowing, and all wise. Therefore, I am confident, that whatever this Scripture is telling us to say or do, is the BEST for us.” God’s will for us, being done in our life, is what is best for us. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete. Thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 1:10). If we truly, with faith, believe in, and trust God to know what is best for us, then we will be submitting our free will to Him, for His will for us to be done in our life. Always follow and obey God’s will for us. If we believe we know what is best for us, we will be asking God to follow and obey our will for ourselves. A spiritually minded person submits to God. A carnally minded person wants God to submit to him. Therefore, are we wanting to obey and serve God, the way He wants us to obey and serve Him, or, are we wanting God to obey and serve us, the way we want Him to obey and serve us? “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). Paul talks about the lack of obedience and submission to God in Romans 10:1-4 saying, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and SEEKING TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, HAVE NOT SUBMITTRD TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone who believes.” Many of the Israelites wanted to continue living by the laws of the Old Testament, which cannot save us. They refused to accept Jesus as the Savior, Who can save us, and thus they refused to be baptized into the New Covenant of the New Testament. If we have not been baptized, we are carnally minded, and living in the flesh, and in sin. When we are baptized, for the remission of our sins, according to God’s plan of salvation for us, we become spiritually minded and a new creation in Christ Jesus. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Romans 8:5-6, 13-14). 2nd Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” Once again, baptism makes us a new creation in Christ. Daily reading and studying the word of God helps us to not return to our old carnal ways of thinking. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12-2). “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself, through Christ Jesus…” (2nd Corinthians 5:18a). Simply said, before baptism we are a carnally minded person trying to act spiritually by apparently obeying and worshiping God in the way WE think He should be obeyed and worshiped. After we are baptized, we become a spiritually minded person who seeks to obey and worship God, the way He wants to be obeyed and worshipped. We stay spiritually minded by reading and studying the Bible daily so we can grow spiritually in our love for, and obedience to, God. Don’t create in your mind an idol of a false god, because it is acceptable to you. Do love the Creator of all that is created. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with ALL YOUR MIND !!! Have faith in God, and in the truth of His inspired scriptures. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32). We all need to have a firm foundation of trusting God, in faith, no matter what the circumstances around us look like. When doubt comes with the intention of destroying us, our faith will be stronger. “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16). Totally submit to, and trust God with your life and do not allow doubt to rob you of all the good that God has in store for you.