Jean-Luc Lézeau, Associate Director
General Conference Stewardship Ministries
Summary: All of the training and effort we exert to change our mind and character is in vain. God alone inspires the will and the action. The fantastic news is that once we have decided to follow Him, He will change our hearts.
Taking a close look at our world today we ask: "What occupies the mind of man?" Unfortunately high on the list of troubled emotions we find two sweeping sentiments—hatred and vengeance. Has the world gone mad? We are apprehensive that the worst is still to come. It is unquestionably another sign that His promise is near (Mt 24: 6, 7).
Sadly, God's name is used to justify the abominable. History is full of accounts of soldiers on both sides of battles being blessed by bishops and priests—each side convinced that it is the group fighting evil.
In all of this distress there is one Deceiver who is reveling in the total destruction of humanity. He rejoices at the murderous thoughts, the mourning, and the hatred he has managed to instill in the human mind and heart. How can we be protected from this evil influence? There is one thing that neither God nor Satan can control without our consent—our minds (Desire of Ages, 125, 258). We face the most awesome challenge of our lives. Each of us must decide what kingdom we desire.
We are continuously confronted with the Manichaeanism or duel philosophy that declares: If we don't serve God, then it must be Satan that we follow (Mt 6:24). There is no alternative. Caleb's experience should tell us something (Nb 14:24). He demonstrated a unique spirit because he followed God with all of his heart, and this is what God desires for us. The fantastic news is that once we have decided to follow Him, He will change our hearts (Ez 36: 26). We will be enabled to live by His Spirit (Ez 37:14).
All of the training and effort we exert to change our minds and characters is in vain. He alone inspires the will and the action. And when we allow God this influence, our minds will begin to comprehend Him. We will then be endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong (Ibid, 458).
Therefore ? I implore you by God's mercy to offer your very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for His acceptance, the worship offered by mind and heart. Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your minds be remade and your whole nature thus transformed. Then you will be able to discern the will of God, and to know what is good, acceptable, and perfect (Rm 12:1, 2).
