When we were little, we had vivid imaginations, but often whenever we tried to share our stories, adults scolded us, saying, “That’s not real. You’re just imagining things.” Recently someone had this question: “I heard you say that our imagination is where we create. I’ve always felt foolish and wrong for imagining. So isn’t it childish after all?”
Part of the reason for our critical view of imagination is that many Scriptural references to imagination are negative. An example is the statement found in Genesis 8:21, “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth…” However, the word imagination is the Hebrew word yay’-tser; a neutral word which simply means “a form; conception or purpose”. The imagination can be used for good or evil.
Many are familiar with Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You.” The word translated “mind” in this verse is also yay’-tser—the word rendered “imagination” in almost every other Old Testament usages. Use of the word “mind” in translation weakens the understanding that the imagination, used righteously, is powerfully good! We could correctly read Isaiah’s statement, “God keeps in perfect peace the one whose imagination, concepts and purposes are dependent on Him…” Humankind is created in the very likeness of God, and we have been invited to co-create with Him in at least two very
speci. c ways:
We co-create life in human babies through the gift of sex (Genesis 4:1) We co-create life experience through the gift of words (Proverbs 18:21) Whether we use these powerful gifts constructively or destructively depends entirely on how we direct our imaginations. Evil imaginations create carelessness, confusion and death. Righteous imagination creates life. Because of God’s perfect, eternal, faithful goodness, He does not take His gifts back even when we misuse them. Romans 11:29 (Ampli. ed)
says, “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.”
The Empire State Building was conceived in the imagination of William F. Lamb in the late 1920’s. Construction was com-
pleted in just 15 months, and the building of. cially opened May 1, 1931. Lamb’s constructive use of imagination has resulted in years of business bene. t and personal enjoyment as over 10 million people have viewed New York City from the 86th . oor observation deck.
In 1956, Jim Jones began to imagine he was the second incarnation of Jesus Christ, and established the People’s Temple organization. Twenty-two years of evil imagination culminated in the massacre of 918 people in Guyana, South America, in November 1978.
Everything we say and do—both good and evil—begins in the creative womb of our minds called the imagination. God gave supremacy over the earth into the hands of humankind
at creation (Genesis 1:28-30). When the . rst couple began to imagine they could become gods, through pride and disobedience they placed that supremacy into the hands of satan.
His imagination is only evil continually, and those who serve satan re. ect that same evil in their imaginations (James 1:14- 15). God clearly acknowledged the tremendous power He invested into the human imagination when He said, “If, as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Let’s use this great gift wisely!
Join me each Monday evening 6:30-8:00 to learn more about how knowledge and consistent application of God’s Word changes our life experience. Beginning October 4, we will dive deep into the Word of God and learn how to grow up spiritually. Call 580-774-2884 for more information on how to be a part of this important class!
