“Collision.” What comes to my mind is impact. It’s where two forces collide; sometimes with limited effect other times with massive consequence. The effect is dependent upon the momentum of one or the other, or perhaps both. Collision: it happens every day; when driving, in sports, and from time to time just by walking down the street.
There is a type of collision that happens every day that many people think little of. It’s one that takes place in the heart of a person. The heart: the location which is the core of all our beliefs and systems of thinking. The collision I’m writing about is the collision of where the spirit of a Christian intersects with situations and circumstances that life offers…where thoughts, emotions and the senses are engaged and decisions are made.
The collision is inevitable. It will and does happen daily, by the minute, at a moment’s notice. It starts in our thoughts then goes to our heart. It can become a raging inferno, fueled by emotion, if you allow it.
It’s a collision between: truth and lies, faith and fear, right and wrong, and belief and doubt.
Here’s a real example of such: when bad things happen to good people. Yeah, why is that—what’s the answer? Well, simply put, it’s because we live in a fallen world and people make choices that affect others. It’s also because there is an enemy of the faith that seeks to steal, kill and destroy us and he will use anything and everything within his power to carry out this malicious intent.
Yes, it is a collision: between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
I believe it’s the Lord’s desire that we live victoriously here in this life. That we would walk by faith in the grace He’s provided through the knowledge of Him. But to do this, we must know His Word, believe His Word and do His Word.
Here’s what I’ve discovered and what I understand to be at issue: too few Christians walk in the knowledge and understanding of the true nature of God, who they are in Christ, the power that resides within them (Holy Spirit), and their authority on this planet, thus resulting in wrong choices. They choose lies over truth, fear over faith, wrong over right, and doubt over belief.
When collisions in the soul happen such people get run over, trampled, and kicked to the curb by the enemy. They beg God to save them from the situation. Often a situation they have created for themselves. Or worse, they blame God for the collision and consequences that follow. Sad but true. I get it. I did it too.
Some accidents happen that are beyond our control. They happen with catastrophic consequences that cause such emotional grief and suffering that goes beyond our natural ability to cope. Those situations I cannot fathom nor do I attempt to address here. Those situations are only understood best by those who have walked them out.
But here’s what I know to be true and a few confirming Scriptures that have helped me deal with a few collisions. (This by the way only scratches the surface.)
1) God’s grace and peace are multiplied to you through your knowledge of God.
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1:2-3
2) God desires relationship with you and for you to know Him and His ways.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” Colossians 2:20-23
3) We have to change the way we think to agree with God’s Word.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
4) You choose how you want to think.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7
5) People are destroyed by lack of knowledge.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge,” Hosea 4:6
6) God is good and the devil is bad.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
7) God gave us great authority on this earth along with responsibility and dominion.
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:19-20
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
Yes, collisions do happen. They are inevitable. However, you can come out on top and not be crushed on the bottom. You can be the victor and not the victim. It’s really your choice. I have found that there is really only one process for choosing your thoughts correctly on a consistent basis: it’s by knowing, understanding and acting upon godly wisdom–daily. He loves you unconditionally and wants only the best for you! I encourage you to know Him intimately by spending time with Him in His Word.