Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places
You have lived a little, haven’t you? What have you learned from this life? Have you had your fill of the world? Is there still something in this life that you yearn for? Is there something that you still desire to do? Maybe it’s not that at all, huh? Maybe, just maybe, you’re ready to throw in the towel. You’ve realized it’s not worth it. You’re too old, too tired, too broken.
Perhaps you’re still running after that degree you haven’t finished; or is it that nice car you’ve always wanted to drive? Maybe you’re dissatisfied with your marriage or your singleness. Perhaps you’re struggling with overeating, overspending or over indulging. Everything around you seems to bother you and you just don’t know how to get out of this vortex you’ve gotten yourself into.
Well, welcome to the world! Rough welcome, huh? Sometimes
it’s hard to believe that what we have been given in Christ, if you are a
member of the
(John 10:10 NASB) "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."
"Where is it?", you ask. Perhaps you’ve allowed the thief to steal it, take it and destroy it! Maybe you have let the accuser rob you of the promise God has given those who have obeyed the Gospel! Who do you believe: Satan, or Jesus? Has Satan been whispering in your ear? Are you listening to him, or to your King?
You don’t feel happy so you look for things to make you happy. You try to find happiness in what you do or what you think about, but it eludes you more than ever. Sometimes the unhappiness is more than we can bear. Sometimes I have become depressed, who hasn’t experienced that? Maybe you’ve allowed your health, material circumstances, loss of a loved one, or your impoverished spiritual state to be a cause for plunging into depression. It probably has happened and it will probably happen again.
Most of our “blueness” lasts for a little while, especially when we consult the Owner’s Manual, given by God Himself, to get refocused. The Bible is the best psychology book ever, addressing all that we are: mind, body and spirit. Instead of studying the Scriptures to look for what happiness is and how it is manifested in the human being, most people who are severely lacking it plunge into drugs, materialism, illicit sex, entertainment of any kind, etc.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, at the end of one of the most sober books in the Bible about living on this Earth, confirmed that only serving God is what makes us complete, not lacking anything:
(Ecc 12:13) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
The same is said about the Scriptures, thousands of years later:
(2Tim 3:16-17) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Why is that? Well, for one thing, the Word of God is the essence of Jesus, the very breath of God, like 2Tim 3:16, 17 says. Let’s look at the effect Jesus can have on people in this particular account in Mark 5:1-20.
We see an interesting contrast illustrated here:
1- A demon-possessed man is an outcast
2- He mutilated himself; was not at peace
3- The village couldn’t help him nor control him
4- Jesus meets the man
5- The man is healed (restored in his right mind)
6- The village sees the results
7- The village was afraid
8- They dismissed Jesus
We can see that soundness of mind comes by way of Jesus. The work of Satan is to cause us to loose soundness of mind and spirit. Jesus is the only one that can restore such soundness. Illness of the mind is something that affects so many people around us, even here in the church. We, like those in the village of the demon possessed man, don’t like change (we are intimidated, afraid) and we reject the Lord’s influence in our life. However, our state of mind will continue to worsen until we reject the world and what it offers and plunge our whole selves into Jesus.
I don’t pretend to be a psychologist, but as a student of the Bible I see the Scriptures describe how sin can cause one to loose soundness of the mind, which can lead to more serious mental, physical and spiritual disorders.
Let’s look at how the world classifies mental soundness.
Psychologists divide mental illness into three general categories:
1- Normal – Most of us are normal. Normal people have their ups and downs, but mostly we are able to spring right back and function as people who reasonably expect a little rain and thunder between the sunshine.
2- Neurotic – Sometimes people may exhibit certain behaviors associated with anxiety. Among these are panic attacks (triggered by phobias), and hypochondria. They still are able to function in society and have not lost touch with reality. However, their obsessions lead them further and further away from true spiritual fulfillment unless they have a relationship with the Lord.
3- Psychotic – These disorders are more severe. So severe that someone who exhibits these behaviors is usually out of touch with reality and needs some custodial care to be able to live. They are completely withdrawn from society and are often subject to delusions and hallucinations.
What are the causes for these mental disorders? The best scientific minds of the world are still uncertain. Some of the causes may be organic: hormonal or chemical imbalances that can occur for various different reasons. Some have to do with genetic defects, degenerative changes often happening in old age or even the abuse of alcohol and drugs can bring about these imbalances.
What I want to focus on is the spiritual causes for “wrongness of the mind.” Most of our emotional difficulties are self inflicted. We paint ourselves in a corner because we are looking for the feeling of happiness, not realizing it will elude us continually until we look to Jesus.
Spiritual problems that go unresolved undoubtedly can cause emotional distress that can precipitate neurotic and even psychotic behaviors that alienate us further from the solution of the problem.
Consider the following factors:
1. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2)
2. Sin causes sadness and spiritual destitution (Luke 15:11ff)
3. Sin scars (causes us to remember the past) (1Tim 1:15)
4. Sin causes bitterness (Hebrews 12:15)
5. Sin causes sickness (1Co 11:30)
6. Sin sears (causes hardness of heart) (Ephesians 4:19; 1Tim 4:2)
Many of our stresses have spiritual roots, and this world cannot address those spiritual problems, which all come from sin. Neither doctors, nor psychologists, nor psychiatrists nor counselors of any kind will be able to help you dissipate the problems that originate from sin. Their help is limited to their field of study. Also, you have to understand that most of what their training involves has originated from atheistic beliefs, like evolution.
So, how do we keep ourselves in the right mind? The misguided efforts of many to try to acquire some happy feelings by any means put them into the “wrong frame of mind”. We need to remember the following:
Spiritual Problems
Have Spiritual Solutions
1- We need to seek healing from our Maker (Matthew 11:28-30[PGG1] )
a. Stop looking at the World
b. Look above!
2- His instructions are found in the Bible (2Tim 3:14, 15[PGG2] )
3- The Scriptures teaches us the principles that lead to fulfillment of the body, soul and mind (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14[PGG3] )
4- We need to believe the Bible (1Thes 2:13[PGG4] )
5- Everything
is ultimately centered in Christ (
6- We need to seek His Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33[PGG6] )
7- We need to get into Christ (Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3,4[PGG7] )
b. Repent (Acts 2:38)
c. Confess (Rom 10:9,10[PGG9] )
d. Be Baptized (Mark 16:16[PGG10] )
e. Persevere (1Tim 4:16; James 1:12[PGG11] )
[PGG1]Mt 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
[PGG2]2Ti 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
[PGG3]Ec 12:13-14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
[PGG4]1Th 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
[PGG5]
[PGG6]Mt 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
[PGG7]Ac 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Ro 6:3-4 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
[PGG8]Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
[PGG9]Ro 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
[PGG10]Mr 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
[PGG11]1Ti 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.