If a poor person who has barely made ends meet all his life is given a million dollars, it is quite possible that after some time he will become poor again, although there are exceptions.
If a millionaire who has learned how to earn his millions is deprived of all his savings, it is highly likely that after some time he will once again become the owner of a new fortune. But there may be exceptions.
If a worldly person who is engrossed in corrupting his own flesh and the flesh of those close to him is placed among chaste people, it is quite possible that after some time he will not become purer, but that society, or some of the people with whom he associates, will become corrupted or encounter serious problems. But there may be exceptions.
If a spiritual person who builds his life upon fellowship with God and has devoted his whole life to it is placed among people who live according to the flesh, it is quite possible that he will preserve his faith in God, become even purer amid this trial, and turn the hearts of many to God, or at least help them to think. But there may be exceptions.
If a person whom God has taught to love and who receives strength from Him daily for love is placed among people whom he does not know at all, it is quite likely that after some time he will love them all and become their friend, and perhaps someone will begin to respond to him in the same way. But they may also reject him.
If we try to understand why a physician chose his profession, we will see that he acquired knowledge of how the human body is made, why a person becomes ill, and what can be done to help him. A physician has the mind of a physician. He has the right to treat people, and this work can be entrusted to him.
Let us speak about a police officer. He has been trained to be one and has the mind of a police officer. This work can be entrusted to him.
And a professional musician knows musical notes, can distinguish them, and can play them. He is able to teach others to do this. He can even give a concert because he has the mind of a musician.
An Olympic competitor has the mind of an athlete. A professional criminal has the mind of a criminal. The president of a country is endowed with the mind of a leader.
I have given these illustrations so that we may pay attention to the fact that a person’s mind and consciousness determine how he will live, what he will do, who he will become, what he will possess, and what influence he will have upon those close to him.
There is a proverb that says existence determines consciousness. There may be some truth in this. But I would like to clarify this saying: consciousness and the mind determine existence.
The book of Proverbs contains this statement: ‘As a man thinketh, so is he.’
My mind is the place and the prize for which heavenly and satanic forces contend with one another. Whoever gains possession of my mind will also possess my will; I will serve and worship him, and I will become like him.
The mind seeks knowledge. If a poor person is taught the law of multiplying capital, the laws of conducting business, and the way the world of money works, he will think like a wealthy person and may apply his knowledge in life and become wealthier.
If a carnal person decides to turn to God, repent, study God’s law and the plan of Salvation, and takes steps in this direction, then God receives him, forgives him, cleanses him, and begins to teach him. And the former sinner receives the way of thinking of a righteous person, becoming submissive to God’s will and obedient to His law.
The sinner becomes holy and righteous in his mind. He thinks about how to please God and make those close to him happier. His mind is set upon good, and he no longer wants to live any other way. Although the paths back to his former life always remain open, he chooses life with God.
The teaching of a particular religious denomination shapes the consciousness of its members and makes them adherents of that denomination. These people are certain that they have the truth and possess the fullness of light. They very rarely change their convictions, but pass their knowledge from generation to generation.
But the mind seeks truth in God and discovers it in Jesus and in the Word of God. And the seeking soul finds the source of grace and truth.
Every good and true knowledge leads a person to Love. It is the summit of God’s mountain of His revelations, visible to absolutely all believers; yet for many it becomes inaccessible because they believe that it is impossible to climb to such a height and that it is not even worth making an effort to reach this goal. At the same time, these people see some boldly ascending, conquering new expanses of Love, and calling everyone to join them. But the closer the ascending person comes to the summit of God’s mountain, the more faintly his voice is heard by those at the foot who, in their ignorance, do not even attempt to climb the mountain. Nor do they want to. Their minds are set upon earthly goals. They achieve them and rejoice.
But the Lord offers: ‘Come up into the mountain; love one another, and there, at the summit of this mountain, lay down your lives for one another, devote yourselves to service, and be faithful unto death.’
Love is also a mind; it is the way of thinking of a righteous person; it is submission and obedience to God’s will and law. It is wisdom descending from above to raise to the summit of knowledge those who want, thirst, and seek it.
Love makes any person loving and causes him to think about loving those close to him. It takes such possession of the consciousness that it becomes the soul of a person, while being the soul of God. The human and the Divine are united in the believer, and he now becomes a partaker of the Divine nature while remaining human.
Love changes everything in my heart, and it does not stop at what has already been achieved, but draws me forward toward new discoveries and victories. And after conquering another summit, I see that this was only an introduction to ascending other heights whose existence I had not even suspected. And who will understand me in my joy? Who will share my discoveries and victories with me? Only those who look to Jesus with faith and do not become content with small achievements, but climb upward, desiring to conquer new summits and acquire the mind of Christ. And they receive that for which they have striven.
We are all approaching the final battle, which is called Armageddon, where Love and every kind of deception and delusion will meet face to face. And Love will gain the victory, for it does not know how to lose and knows no defeat. Truth will triumph, although all its heralds will be sentenced to death by the world; but God will arise in defense of His people and bring this conflict to an end through His glorious Coming and the establishment of the Eternal Kingdom of Love.
And there all the saved will see new summits and opportunities that they will surely conquer, for God Himself will be their God.
Let us honestly answer these questions for ourselves. To whom does my mind belong? Whose am I? Do I love? Do I have the mind of Love? Can I say of myself that I have the mind of Christ?
Love is God’s work in my consciousness, and God knows how to impress upon my heart that which will benefit me and bring glory to Him. He does this in response to my thirst for Love, to my desire to love.
Friendship with God forms the mind of God’s friend, and Love establishes me in this condition forever. I will remain this way even if this world deprives me of everything. And God will feed me every morning. And I will love eternally.
Homework 200
What interesting things were revealed in this lesson? Why is it so important to place your will in God’s hands? How does a sinner become holy? What prevents many believers from attaining Love? What changes does Love produce in a person’s heart?
Do I have the mind of Christ?
What forms the mind of God within you? Why is it important to understand to whom my mind belongs? What will the final battle between good and evil be fought over? Please read Psalm 119:97–105; Ezekiel 2:8; 3:3; Revelation 10:10–11; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12, 15–16; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 3:17–18; Romans 8:5–10; 12:1–2; 11:32–36 in the light of our lesson.