EVIL THOUGHTS by Alonzo Briggs

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 16.

EVIL THOUGHTS.

By Alonzo Briggs

BY ALONZO BRIGGS.

In the human mind originate all kinds of evil. Sinful tendencies, in the beginning, are very weak and apparently insignificant; but, if not cast out, are like little foxes that destroy the vines. The apostle Paul, when speaking on charity, said that it "thinketh no evil." From this we understand that when mind and heart are filled with God's love, there will be no room for the germination and development of evil thoughts.

When Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, exclaimed, "Blessed are the pure in heart," He implied, also, that the mind should be untarnished by sinful thoughts. "He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person." That is, whether he really did the evil he devised or not. The "wise man" said, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

If that is the true test, evil thoughts are the possession of wicked people; pure, holy thoughts are the harbingers of good, pure, and noble actions, which constitute character. Why has there been so much said and written on the subject of impure conversation? Our words are invariably controlled by the condition of the mind, whether they be good or evil. Are not impure or evil thoughts to be greatly deplored, when from sinful thoughts come sinful words; from sinful words come evil deeds; from evil deeds come a destiny, which, without the Lord's aid and assisting grace, is equivalent to destruction? As evil communications corrupt good manners, so do corrupt minds defile and contaminate our speech.

An evil tree will always bring forth corrupt fruit; and a good tree will produce good fruit. The works of the flesh begin as minute germs in the mind. It is almost impossible for a person to retain evil in the mind without it showing itself in evil acts, either public or private. It has been said that we are not responsible to the Lord for evil thoughts; but how can we have the mind of Christ if we permit them? Is it not said in the Word, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus"? Do not, under any circumstances, allow undesirable thoughts to creep into the mind. Let us pray that the divine mind may abide in us richly by faith.

The evil thoughts of the antediluvians, many of which developed into action, provoked the Lord's wrath, bringing destruction upon all the ungodly during the life of Noah; but the patriarch and his family, who possessed pure thoughts and motives, were saved. "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God; God is not in all of his thoughts." "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity;" but if we have the mind of Christ, our minds will not dwell upon thoughts of evil nor our characters be formed in harmony with such thoughts.

King Solomon said: "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination." "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

Morganhill, Cal.