The Imagination

THE IMAGINATION IS THE INCUBATOR FOR LUST

Fingerprints on the Mind

Imagination is the ability to live out desired experiences in the mind. This is done when the soul produces images or ideas through direct or indirect experiences. In order to understand the workings of the imagination, you must first remember that the mind (your soul) has a memory of sin.

This memory itself is not a captivity. Nevertheless, it is this memory of the captivity of sin and our deliverance from it, that allows us to offer praises to the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. The enemy provides those things that will stimulate that memory. This is called temptation. It is an attempt of the enemy to remind you of the pleasures of sin you once experienced.

Temptation can be very effective because the memory of pleasure or the acquired want for it, creates an affection or desire in the flesh. This desire in turn, produces an emotion in the heart.

Once the emotion is produced, it wants to be expressed. If opportunity doesn’t present itself in our physical surroundings, then that expression, which has now become lust, is confined to

the imagination.

Lust is conceived in the heart. It is the offspring of an impure imagination. It is produced in several ways:

1. The Memory of Sin:

Satan will use any means necessary to remind you of the pleasures you once experienced in the world.

2. Unfiltered Influence:

The darkness we allow to flow through the eye, ear and touch gates; i.e. movies, television, telephone, magazines, and unholy relationships.

3. Flirtation with Curiosity:

Remember, Eve flirted with curiosity regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, before she began to lust for the fruit it bore. Satan uses our curiosity to introduce us to new pleasures.

4. Unforgiven Offense:

The imagination can house hostility, and a need for retribution or revenge.

5. Discontentment:

When the eye is not single on Christ, there will be a secret longing for the things of the world.

6. Resentment:

When purpose is not the agenda, then there will be a resentment of God, His way, methods, authority and power over your life.

All of the above are capable of producing seeds that fertilize the imagination. These seeds are the thoughts that are pondered in the heart. As you can see, some of these thoughts originate from outside influence, while others are birthed out of disobedience and a failure to embrace purpose.

We often demonize the imagination, but we must remember, it was given to us by God. It was not originally evil, but the fall of man into sin caused it to be filled with lust and wantonness to experience those unlawful desires.

For those who are not born again, their imagination has been fertilized and nurtured by the memory of sin. Thus, sin is produced by marrying the memory of sin with the imagination. However, the same is not true for the children of God. Our evil imaginations were purged of all unrighteousness by the death of the old man.

We were resurrected into the newness of life; or a new life, void of any demonic influences. Our memory of sin has no more power over us. If we should yield to the temptations laid before us, it is because, at some point, we have rejected the leading of the Holy Ghost.

For those of us who walk in the Spirit, sin is not a temptation: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace . . . Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:14-16). For sin to influence us, we must make a conscious decision to yield to it. We must forsake the glory of God living within us, to proceed in unrighteousness.

Do you remember those spiritual interruptions I mentioned in the first chapter? the ones that were planned before we were born? As children, we experienced some negative circumstances, situations and relationships: many of which we thought we had forgotten. We did not realize how they affected us; or the negative mindsets that had been developed in us as a result of this negative influence. In actuality, they were merely pushed aside or suppressed deep inside our mind (imagination) waiting for the opportunity to be lived out.

No matter how we tried to hide or bury these feelings and emotions, they had done their work well. In examining the results of some of the decisions we made, and the paths we took, it be- came obvious that they had laid indelible fingerprints on our minds.

The residue (the memory of sin) remains, whether we recognize it or not. If these negative mindsets are not destroyed, those emotions will be expressed in one form or another. They are still there like everlasting fingerprints left at the scene of the crime.

These are the negative mindsets that have been developed as a result of the experiences of our life. Thank God for salvation. That is your only escape. Otherwise, your soul will be plagued with thoughts of unfulfillment. Wantonness and lust will continue to crave an outlet; and you will bury yourself in the lying world of your imagination.