As I reflect on the depravity of human nature I am astounded of the shipwreck of the mind of so many. The shipwreck of the mind is not limited to those in addiction. In fact, many who are pursuing counsel are already shipwrecked in their mind. Family issues abound without the enslavement of addiction. Addiction just exacerbates the shipwrecked mind. The mind plunges into shipwreck when it lacks a rudder. Those not in fellowship, teaching, preaching of the local church will shipwreck. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 The mind without the sound doctrine of the Scripture is a mind without a rudder. G.K. Chesterton writes on the subject of morality. “Morality is a lot like art, you have to draw a line somewhere.” Sexual immorality abounds in the church as the Word of God is abandoned. It is the sign of an unsound mind. Other mental issues that cause pain and suffering are rooted in an unsound mind floundering in the darkness. The spirits of relativism and easy believe-ism are the catalyst of the darkened mind. Relativism teaches that there are no absolute truths. Easy believe-ism is belief without obedience to God’s Word. “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:8 The consequence of this mindset is depicted in Isaiah 1:5-6; “…the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it….”
Until the mind is rescued of this dungeon by a supernatural, divine work of the Grace of God, it is futile to try to bring it into the light. “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9 “For He satisfies the living soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:9 It is the power of God’s grace that will free a person from the bondage of an unsound mind.
Flannery O’Connor’s comment on grace says it well; “All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.” We see the action of grace working miraculously in Ephesians 2:8; “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”
It is the phenomenon of trusting Christ as our personal savior that our mind is transformed from darkness to light. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14
At this point, our minds are rescued from ‘shipwreck’. We are given the mind of Christ. II Corinthians 2:16 I believe it was Geoffery B. Wilson who wrote in his commentary on Romans a revelatory truth concerning the mind of Christ. “We do not have the fullness of the mind of Christ; but we have it in its potential.” This is a sound mind – rooted in Christ.
The Apostle Paul writes in II Timothy 2:7; “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind.” The sound mind denotes a man of prudence and discretion. “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve your, understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil.” Proverbs 2:10-12 This sound mind has an affinity for love for God, for others, and one’s self. “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And second is this; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31 Not only is the mind loving, but it is rooted in power. It is the power of God that holds us in this sound mind. As one of my Bible professors said concerning our walk with God; “If we fail it’s our own doing; if we do well it’s God’s doing.” “We are kept by the power of God through faith.” I Peter 1:5
I would suggest that the mind of God in us puts a check in our spirit towards anything that will disrupt our fellowship with God. If we ignore the mind of Christ in us, we will drift into the seas of an unsound mind and shipwreck into the abyss of darkness. This is a great paralysis that blinds the mind from the light of hope. Hopelessness, evil, deceit, and foolishness dwell in this place. “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” James 3:14-16
What must we do to destroy the unsoundness of the mind? Return to the place where the grace blows. Pursue Jesus, the author of grace. Repent of your sin, of drifting away from the mind of Christ resulting in the bondage of an unsound mind. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 Run to church, fellowship, God’s Word, preaching, worshipping God. The light and the presence of God will renew your mind. Sound doctrine will heal your mind. George McDonald writes; “If you want to improve yourself, do the will of God to improve yourself.” “…to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 Spiritual mindedness will bring you back to a sound mind.
