Several years ago a friend of mine phoned me to see if he could dispose of a large amount of dirt in my back yard. He had been working in his yard doing some landscaping and had generated several extra loads of dirt. As I had plenty of acreage I told him that it would be okay. The next season I noticed some odd changes to the vegetation on my property, little thorny spiky purple plants began to pierce through the ground. In no time at all these invasive amazons of vegetation had grown to nearly 6 feet in height, with 2 inch stalks and nasty sharp leaves. Within a few years my entire hillside was inundated with this forest of unwelcomed intruders.
Now, my friend was unaware of the contents of his dirt I am sure, and yet he was the unwilling carrier of that which so altered the face of my landscape.
What’s my point? Sometimes we unwittingly and yet willfully, expose ourselves to “weeds” that can affect the health of our spiritual landscape. Whether it is in the means of reading material, viewing material, listening material or even that which we allow into our minds and hearts through the seemingly innocuous words of a friend, we open ourselves up to pollution, pollution that may not reveal its ugly affect until years later. It may be the way we interpret God’s Word, or the attitude that we have toward another person that is bent because of the errant information of a “well-meaning” or seemingly innocent vehicle.
My wife and I have talked about movies, which we enjoyed so thoroughly in our younger years, and have subsequently decided to watch again only to be so devastated with the blasphemy toward God and the sexual innuendo that we end up turning it off.
Christians are called to guard our minds in Christ Jesus. Part of that means to govern carefully that which makes it through the portals of our minds, to act as sentries to that which would have an adverse affect on the spiritual heath of our souls.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” That means we are to run everything through the filter of Christ so that all, which is contrary to the true knowledge of God would be exposed and dispelled.
Let me ask you this: How are you doing spiritually? Are you mired and don’t know how to reach a better spiritual health with God? Is there competition for purity in your mind? In your life? It is amazing however so subtly the enemy sows his seeds of destruction and we don’t realize what has happened until, one day we look around us and discover we are surrounded by life eroding parasites.
Perhaps, an inventory is in order of the things you are watching on TV, the music you are listening to, the books you are reading and even the people with whom you are spending the majority of your time, or letting speak into your life.
Philippians 4:7 communicates that the peace of God will help us guard our minds. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God has given us a conscience and discernment – let it work in you. If there is a check in your spirit when you are exposing yourself to something that is contrary to that which should refresh you soul, then it’s time to walk away.
God has so much more for us than weeds.
Be on guard.
