Have you ever stopped to think about the human ability of imagination? When we were all children, there was nothing more joyous than playing make-believe with our siblings or friends. I spent hours in the field behind our house as a kid with friends defeating bad guys of all types with nothing but a stick. Every small tree or tall blade of grass turned into an evil villain who needed to be vanquished with my sword, or spear, or gun….or whatever I imagined that stick to be in the moment. As a child, I loved stories, and that love for stories remains today. I do not think that I am alone in my love for stories since movies, television, music, books, and art of all kinds drive much of the American culture. So much so, that our favorite actors have become like the kings and queens of old, garnering honor and admiration of the highest honor.
I am afraid that we have relegated imagination to the realm of make-believe and completely miss the reason God has given us the ability to imagine. I think one of Satan’s schemes is to convince us that imagination is useful only for childish fantasy and escape, while he quietly captures our affections (desires, emotions, feelings) and redirects our worship toward lesser things. God, in His word, consistently commands, encourages, and invites His children to meditate on His Word and consider the eternal things of God (Psalm 1:2, 4:4, 49:3; Josh 1:8; Phil 4:8, 1 Tim 4:15).
While understanding God’s truth requires the renewed mind, meditation often engages the imagination as we contemplate and apply biblical realities. Considering God’s Word without meditation and imagination may lead to dry rationalism. Much like a lawyer considers the law, the Christian becomes attuned to the rules and duties but can remain detached from the person and work of Christ. Louis Berkoff warns, “If we bear in mind that revelation aims at the renewal of the entire man, we shall realize that it cannot seek the realization of its aim merely by teaching man and enlightening the understanding (Rationalization), or by prompting man to lead a virtuous life (Moralism), or by awakening the religious emotions of man (Mysticism).” (1)
Beware of Imagination Detached from Reality
I believe that Satan seeks to capture our imaginations for two reasons:
First, Satan wants us distracted. When the pressures of life become overwhelming, he wants us to escape into daydreams and grand adventures. Many can transport themselves into the other worlds of their favorite movies, television shows, or books. All the while drifting farther from the Lord and being weakened by the flesh. Each day, you return to the reality of your responsibilities, struggles, or the mundane necessities of life, longing to return to the land of fantasy. It is no wonder so many struggle with a shallow, dry faith. What occupies our minds often reveals what our hearts worship and love. We are to actively engage with God through His word in the reality of His truth, which shapes our affections and action (Ps 119:15, 23). It is through biblical meditation that our imagination helps us to enter into His throne room for prayer (Heb 4:16), to reflect on our King currently sitting at the right hand of God (Heb 1:3), or set our hope on the place that Christ has gone to prepare for us when we die (John 14:1-6).
Second, Satan subtly wants you to place the stories and teachings of scripture in the category of fantasy. This confusion often begins at a young age, so we must carefully maintain the distinction between fantasy and biblical reality. If imagination is detached from God’s Word, then the accounts of the flood, Jonah, the garden, angels, miracles, fire from heaven, and even the resurrection will remain in the category of make-believe. This may be one reason many professing Christians struggle to grasp the reality and significance of biblical truth. If Satan can get you to place God, eternity, Scripture, and spiritual warfare in the realm of make-believe, then you will be vulnerable, distracted from the truth, and most easily tormented.
Biblical Meditation and Holy Imagination
What does it mean to meditate? It means to think personally, practically, seriously, and earnestly on how the truth of God’s Word should look in life(2). God has given believers the gift and duty of meditation. Since meditation is multifaceted in value, Satan wants to distract us from it. Thomas Watson wrote, “The devil is an enemy of meditation…He knows that meditation is a means to compose the heart, and to bring it into a gracious frame…Satan is content that you should be hearing and praying Christians, so that ye be not meditating Christians; he can stand your small shot, provided that you do not put in this bullet.”(3)
The spiritual realm and reality exist outside of our temporal one. God has revealed himself to man through general revelation (creation) and special revelation (Scripture). The point of special revelation is to interpret our world and our lives to give us proper meaning, perspective, and to cultivate worship of the one true God. It is impossible to meditate and consider the promises and realities of Scripture without utilizing your imagination. Imagination is a gift and tool God gave us to interact with him and to grow our affections for Him. When tethered to the truth of God’s Word, imagination engages the senses in such a way that allows us to commune with God and stirs up our affections toward love and worship (Duet 6:5; Ps 119: 36-37; Col 3:1-2).
Conclusion:
The ability to meditate and engage our imaginations is hard-wired in every human. Everyone does this every day. The tragedy is that it is utilized on frivolous, empty, and unimportant things. We are all guilty. David Saxton warns, “Those habits that are most useful to the soul will likely face the greatest enemy assaults. Like a worm that destroys the root of a beautiful plant, so Satan devises strategies that will shake the foundation of the believer’s walk with God. Because meditation is essential for the believer, it is no great surprise that the evil one would seek its hindrance; yet, ‘we are not ignorant of his devices’ (2 Cor 2:11).” (4)
Questions For Reflection:
- How does your use of entertainment, social media, books, movies, or daydreaming shape your affections and desires?
- When you are anxious, discouraged, or overwhelmed, where does your mind naturally run for comfort and escape?
- If an outsider could observe your thought life for a week, would they conclude that the realities of God, eternity, and His kingdom are more real to you than the things of this world?
- I encourage you to select a passage of Scripture (such as Psalm 19) and meditate on it throughout the week. As you prayerfully reflect on its truths, how does God use His Word to redirect your thoughts, capture your affections, and draw you closer to Christ?
(1) Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, expd ed. (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2021), 135.
(2) David W. Saxton, God’s Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015) 2.
(3) Thomas Watson, Gleanings from Thomas Watson, ed. Hamilton Smith (1915; repr., Morgan, PA,: Soli Deo Gloria, 1995), 103.
(4) Saxton, God’s Battle Plan for the Mind, 115.