The Imagination of Man

By David Wyper

What does God have to say about our imagination?

Through Moses, God said of mankind that "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." After hearing the words of a curse, man then blesses "himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst." God says our imagination will testify against us and evils and troubles will befall us.

God has Solomon call our imagination "wicked," and Jeremiah calls us deceived when we think our imagination can bring peace and that "no evil shall come upon you." Jeremiah also compares our imagination to rebellion against God.

Jesus said that the proud are scattered "in the imagination of their hearts."

Also, Paul refers to our imagination as vain and something to be cast down as it is a "high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God."

Yet, in the last decade or so, the church has lifted up a song glorifying the imagination to be one of the most successful songs in Christian music, and God's people have followed after like lemmings, singing, "I Can Only Imagine."

Go figure.

We need to always fix our faith and trust in the absolutely finished work of Christ on the Cross; and (as Paul teaches) to not go beyond what is written.

Genesis 6:5 - And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Deuteronomy 29:19 & 20 - And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

Deuteronomy 31:21 - And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

Proverbs 6:18 - An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Jeremiah 23:17 & 18 - They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

Lamentations 3:60-63 - Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me; The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day. Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.

Luke 1:51 - He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Romans 1:21 - Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;