The Plumbline is Christ
The new creation spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is what has happened in the life of all who have come to faith and repentance. A result, the heart is purified, our conscience is cleansed and the Spirit of God testifies to our own spirit that we are a child of God. Romans 8:16 We each begin to walk in fellowship with Christ. This fellowship is also called walking in the Spirit in Galatians 5:16. We are to live in the Spirt and be led of the Spirit. Gal.:18,25 So begins the life rooted and grounded in love.
We also begin to encounter the spiritual battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. The LORD has provided for us spiritual provisions to walk in the Spirit, day by day. Concerning the world we read “this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 The scriptures instruct us to take the whole armour of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6:13-18
Conflict and warfare are all part of our life as those who have come to follow Him that has given to us our new life. Eternal life has begun and as the result of this transformation we are now tasting of His resurrection life in US. Psalm 34:8 Oh taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the man that puts his trust in Him.
While the heart has been purified and the conscience cleansed, this new beginning is still in need of many things to learn, unlearn and rightly understand. The mind is in need of transformation. Old habit and patterns that are relegated to your former way of living must make way for your new man that is created in righteousness and holiness. We are called to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable which is but a reasonable service. And we are not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind that we may prove that perfect and acceptable will of God. Rom.12:1,2
We also are called to put off the old man or way of life and to put on the new man that is created in true righteousness. We each can hear Christ (Eph.4:21) the voice of the Spirit, yet the mind must begin to build an understanding concerning the life each has received. Like the hard drive of a computer that holds the memory and programs, so your mind holds those past memories and feelings that have kept you in spiritual darkness. In the school of Christ, we learn to put away or cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Put on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and make no provision for the flesh. Romans 13:14
Sow a thought reap an action, sow an action reap a habit, sow a habit reap a nature, sow a nature reap a character, sow a character reap a destiny.
The thought life is to be renewed and by the grace of God learn to put off the old way of, stinkin’ thinkin’, and put on the new man created in true holiness. Eph.4:23,24
We each are to call upon God to help us in this way. Guard your mind and don’t let those things, former thoughts rule you anymore. You are now a new creation and in Christ a son of God. 1 John 3:2
Words are like seeds. Planting seeds in the mind is likened to seed in the ground, once it takes root it will bring forth its fruit. You don’t want to plant the wrong seeds in your mind. Television is a force for evil and is associated with what is called Programming. The world’s system wants you to be programmed according to the values of the world. This is the work of evil spirit’s to trap you and form in your mind that which will destroy your spiritual life if you allow it!! Spend your time well. Read and meditate on the scriptures. Read material that will strengthen your faith and help you to grow in faith and knowledge. 2 Peter 1:5-7 Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge, temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love. We are here on this planet for God’s purpose of manifesting his kingdom and He is working in us to create the mature stature of his son in US. Thus the cross is designed to be the means that God uses to form HIS SON in us. Let us have the same mind of Christ without division and carnal-mindedness. Carnality can be addressed at another time. So let us walk in a way that is upright and faithful abounding with thanksgiving to God.