Our Thoughts by J. P. Henderson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1874

Our Thoughts.

By J. P. Henderson

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” The answer follows: “I the Lord search the heart.” Jer. 17:9, 10. It is the secret thoughts that we harbor in our minds, and dare not communicate to our nearest friend, that make our hearts “desperately wicked.” We may not be able at all times to avoid hearing evil words and corrupt conversation, but it is when we reflect on what is heard that our hearts become corrupt.

It is the evil thought that leads the mind astray, that corrupts our nature, that inflames our passions. God judges the secrets of men; for they cannot be hid from him. “The Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7.

David understood this when he cried; “Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps. 19:12, 13, 14.

We may allow our thoughts to reflect upon evil until it becomes engrafted into our nature; so with imaginary persecutions. But where is our faith at such times? surely, not on Jesus, or our souls would rejoice that we have trials to endure, that we may, by continually overcoming, grow in grace and bring to ourselves that greatest of all promises, spoken by our Saviour: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8.

J. P. Henderson.

Goodland, Ind.