FOURTEEN
Heart and Mind
“Oh, what pretty lights” - or, a married couple strolls by a house one evening, and they view the Christmas lights. There are reds and blues, yellows and greens. The man thinks of the labor involved in setting so many lights around the house. He thinks of the risk involved in climbing a ladder. He might even admire the talent and foresight it took to place the lights so creatively. The woman, I think, misses the creative combination of yellows and blues and reds and greens - they are all equally bright and colorful. They are impressive to see. They are ‘pretty’.
Each light is an energy that is activated by another energy. It is a case of energy reflecting energy. They come in different colors, but each separate light is powered by the same electricity. Likewise, the mind is a light powered by the spirit. The difference seen from one mind to another is not based in differing spirits so much as in how the spirit is filtered. Where a clear bulb will reflect the purest representation of the power that lights it, another bulb will filter away all but a specific color. The mind comes in many colors, all reflections of the power that is not obvious to the naked eye.
If a mind is white, it cannot be black at the same time. A man’s front may never be his back, no matter how many times he turns around. In that sense, the mind of man mirrors the mind of God - or the lack of the mind of God.
See Psalms 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart (mind), the Lord will not hear me.”
This chapter is somewhat of a smaller list but the list remains true to the topic. The mind of the godly man is the mind of God. Spiritual is mental is spiritual. The more we explore and exercise the invisible inner man, the bigger, stronger, and more noticeable our spiritual muscles become.
Early scriptural writers promoted the underlying power of the mind in man: the inner man. The
definitive spiritual core within the human nature was called the heart. This study has deeply explored
the interconnectedness of the heart and mind. The seeker’s take on the matter is that the heart and
mind are the same. In its centuries of use, the heart has been applied to every aspect of human nature,
whether of emotion, or of character, or of the invisible ‘divine’ nature. Of a mighty character, the
heart of a warrior, or a lion was often referenced to indicate strength and resolve.
See Psalms 112:8, “His heart (mind) is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.”
What lifts the man above the animal level? It is not a feeling or a state of emotion. Animals have those in common with man. It is not character, for animals also have character. It is the mind. It is a man’s thought – and second thought. We think. We rethink. Our second thoughts may rightly be called our conscience. The conscience is the spiritual mechanism of guidance. Without conscience, thought would be random and idle. Just as the reins on a horse guides the power of it left or right, so the conscience guides the power of the human nature to right or to wrong (by the lack thereof). Our reins, the ‘reins’ written of in early scripture, are equal to the ability to sense the spiritual landscape and guide the thoughts, with the resulting decisions and actions, in some purposeful direction.
See Psalms 73:21, “Thus my heart (mind) was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins (conscience).”
The state of our inner man has, from early times, been seen to affect our outward condition.
See Proverbs 14:30, “A sound heart (mind) is the life of the flesh.”
Proverbs 13:12 referenced that state in such terms as a tree of life, that being: a developmental path that leads to firmness of life, and by extension, life itself. When we read this verse, we must know that more is being referenced than the satellite emotions or getting what one wants. From early times, man saw the importance of communication and instruction. The thoughts within are the headwaters of all action. One may be anybody; one may begin anywhere: we are all strung together like Christmas lights. If we begin with something, if we exercise what we possess, then more will be given.
See Acts 18:25-26, “This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
We call the mind a spiritual state. A spiritual state is like a Christmas light: it may be one color or it may be another color, but the truth is that a thing cannot be what it is except by not being something else. As already stated, a man’s front may never be his back: when he looks behind himself, that direction automatically becomes what is in front of him. Each mind, then, is a spirit that is a spirit at the expense of being anything other.
See 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.”
According to what I have put forth, may we see a conscience at work in an unrighteous person? Yes, it is there. When a person is caught in wrongdoing, the inner man will burn.
See Acts 2:37, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart (mind).”
In certain cases, this is accompanied by the physical system being flooded with adrenaline. It is the same thing that happens when the rethinking of a righteous person leads to conviction. What, then, is the difference between the righteous and the unrighteous? It is the choice the individual makes. When the heart, or the spirit, is spoken of, it is the mind that is referenced. The conscience seems to be a subordinate function of the mind.
These terms may be used interchangeably. But, what about the soul? I have suggested an angelic other but here is another thought – that the soul is a sort of gestalt mental (by which, I mean spiritual) identity.
See the inner man in Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
Now, of course, the seeker will place those three words on the same level, as equals. Man is raised above the animal level and becomes the son of man. He finds something marvelous, although
invisible, inside of himself. He seeks it, he exercises it and receives more. He communicates that
grand invisibility and when he sees it in others, takes of it readily.
At first, there is only the knowledge of it, but as that knowledge is applied to life, experience and understanding are accumulated. Understanding is applied to life, and wisdom is obtained.
Communications have evolved throughout this process and have reached a higher, more effective level. It is the process of God realizing Himself in man. Man reaches a communicative level where he no longer merely speaks words but transmits the very essence of the God-mind.
See Acts 6:10, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”
Now, I have gone on and on about the mind of man and the communication of the mind of God. Our augmented mind and higher nature come to us through both the spoken and the written word. The divine nature and better character in others rub off on us. A sort of spiritual ‘Brownian Movement’ is in effect. It is a process that shall lift every willing individual.
We may discern the spirit of Christ in the common man, in ourselves, by applying the knowledge imparted to us through scripture. We may understand our ‘spiritual evolution’ by the exercise of that knowledge. The upright in mind may certainly be seen in the actions and decisions that stream from the headwaters of the augmented mind.
The upright in mind will be known by the thoughts of the mind: Proverbs 23:7, “As he thinketh in his heart (mind), so is he.”
Also, Daniel 2:30, “Know the thoughts of thy heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will seek, study, and memorize the words of God: Proverbs 7:3, “Write them upon the table of thine heart (mind).”
Also, Proverbs 4:4, “Let thine heart (mind) retain my words.”
Also, Romans 7:22, “I delight in the law of God after the inward man.”
The upright in mind will exercise the mind: Proverbs 8:5, “Be ye of an understanding heart (mind).”
Also, Isaiah 6:10, “Understand with their heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will conduct themselves in a deliberate and adamant manner: 1 Corinthians 7:37, “Standing steadfast in one’s heart (mind).”
Also, Daniel 1:8, “Purposed in his heart (mind).”
Also, Acts 11:23, “With purpose of heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will be known for their single-mindedness: Psalms 86:11, “Unite my heart (mind) to fear Thy name.”
The upright in mind will be individuals of conscience: Luke 24:32, “Did not our heart (mind) burn within us.”
The upright in mind will think authoritatively: 2 Corinthians 7:7, “Your fervent mind.”
The upright in mind will not complicate the issues: Jeremiah 4:4, “Take away the foreskins of your heart (mind).”
The upright in mind will boldly press forward: John 14:27, “Let not your heart (mind) be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Also, 2 Corinthians 8:19, “Of your ready mind.”
The upright in mind will exhibit stability: Luke 8:35, “In his right mind.”
The upright in mind will not act like a know-it-all: Acts 20:19, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind.”
The upright in mind will be known for their solidarity: Ephesians 6:5, “Singleness of your heart (mind).”
Also, 2 Corinthians 4:13, “We having the same spirit (mind) of faith.”
Also, Romans 15:6, “With one mind and one mouth glorify God.”
Also, 1 Peter 3:8, “Be ye all of one mind.”
Also, Revelation 17:12-13, “These have one mind.”
The upright in mind will have what others need and seek: Revelation 17:9, “Here is the mind which hath wisdom.”
The upright in mind will be the new and improved model: Ephesians 4:23, “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
The upright in mind will have vision: Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure (angelic) in heart (mind): for they shall see (the invisible) God.”
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