In Proverbs 23:7 we find a statement that, when studied in search of God’s Truth, illuminates one of those Truths that most people never consider–“we are what we think.” In the physical realm we find a similar statement that is equally true–“we are what we eat.” What we take into our stomach becomes part of our physical being. This holds true in both positive and negative ways. A person who eats a lot of sweets and other types of junk food will be unhealthy, a fact that is visually obvious. The opposite is also true.

In the spiritual realm, we become what we take into our heart/mind. A person who mentally ingests worldly things will become worldly. This condition will be obvious by the things he/she says and does. One who searches church doctrine for truth will reflect what they ingest by speaking and doing according to the church’s heathen doctrines and practices. See the Introduction to this website for examples of heathen practices and beliefs that form the foundation of Catholicism/Protestantism.

To understand who and what we are spiritually we need only examine what we take into our minds/hearts through our eyes and ears. Eyes and ears are to one’s spiritual condition what the stomach is to one’s physical condition. The true God seeker will ask him/herself: What do I see and hear that determines who and what I am spiritually? Obviously, watching and reading pornography has a negative effect on the consumer.  If the practice continues it separates one from God (Isa. 59:2) and condemns the soul (Eze. 18:4,20). We must understand that what we see and hear is what we think about. What we think about determines what we say and do–our “walk.” This truth is obvious when dealing with such things as pornography in films, books, magazines, music, etc. But this is not the only way one can pollute one’s mind and affect one’s walk.

We are commanded to “redeem the time” we have been allotted in this life (Eph. 5:16). We are surrounded by sin and other things that quietly consume our time and occupy our minds, thereby keeping us from pursuing God by studying His Word, praying, fasting, meditating, etc. Time is like a vacuum–it demands to be filled. Either God or Satan will fill it. Man makes the “who” decision, thereby determining how his time will be used. If he does not deliberately and forcefully fill it with the things of the Lord, Satan will fill it with either sin or frivolous activities. An activity need not be a sin to become a source of sin. Many meaningless endeavors in this life can, if allowed to consume too much of our time, prevent us from redeeming it for the Lord.

In the past I was a hard-core sports fan. I knew who was playing whom, when, etc. Then the Lord began to speak to me about time, specifically the amount of it I was wasting. Having come under conviction, I asked Him to take the powerful desire to watch sports away from me. He did so immediately, literally within seconds. He also delivered me from addiction to movies, t.v. police programs, novels, etc.  Sports, music, t.v., politics, the internet, the social media, etc. become addictive if not dealt with. People have lost jobs, destroyed relationships, etc. due to addiction to entertainment in its various forms. The activity itself need not be a sin in order for it to lead to sin. The wasting of valuable time is itself sin (Eph. 5:6). I find that the typical self-professed Christian spends very little of his/her leisure time studying God’s Word, praying, etc. Most of his/her “down time” is wasted in pursuit of things that satisfy the flesh. This is a sure sign that the person is intent on getting to heaven, not on obeying God. Having been repeatedly assured that heaven is his/her next stop, the heaven seeker goes about his/her daily life oblivious to the fact that he/she is an idolater. In the first commandment the Lord states that His people are to have no other gods before Him. One’s god is the one with whom one spends one’s non-work time. If a man gets off from work at 5:00 but does not get home until 8:00, his wife knows that she is not #1 in his life. When a “Christian” gives God 30 minutes of his/her day then spends three hours watching t.v., God knows that He is not #1 in his/her life, which means that he/she will not spend his/her next life with Him. Though Satan assures church people that their “salvation experience” guarantees them a heavenly mansion regardless of how they spend their down time, God’s people know the Truth (Jn. 17:17). L.J.