Fantasy - according to the bible...

1. Fantasy - according to the Bible… – 28th
July2017
“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good
or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
The Cambridge DictionarystatesthatFantasyis imaginative literatureoftensetin strange placeswith
unusual characters and the use of magic.It isa pleasantbutunlikely situationthatyouenjoy thinking
about,or the activity of thinkinginthisway. Fantasiesare a productof our creative minds.They maybe
imaginedideas,stories,visual art,inventions,fictionalscenarios,oranythingelse we couldpossibly
envision.We have the abilitytomentallycreate things.Havinganimaginationisnota sin.Imaginingor
fantasizingaboutthingsthatare pleasingtoGod isa wonderful waytoconnectwiththe One who
createdus as we can read from Philippians4:8,“ Finally,brothersandsisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble,whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,whatever is admirable—if
anythingisexcellent or praiseworthy—thinkaboutsuchthings.”However,aswithall activitiesinlife,it
isimportantto ensure ourfantasieshave agoodand righteousintentionbehindthem. Assaidabove in
Philippians4:8, it tellsus to thinkaboutthingsthatare true,noble,right,pure,lovely,admirable,and
praiseworthy.Doyourfantasiesalignwiththatbiblical standard?
On the otherhand,if the images,scenarios,orstoriesinourimaginationhave crossedintothe realmof
that whichwouldnotbe pleasingtoGod,thenour fantasizinghascausedusto sin.We can learnfrom
Psalm5:4, “For you are not a Godwho is pleasedwith wickedness;with you,evil people are not
welcome.” We can learnas saidin Proverbs15:26 “The LORD detests the thoughtsof the wicked, but
graciouswords are pure in hissight.” Unhealthyfantasiescanleadtosuchsinsas greed,lust,
covetousness,andjealousy.Dwellingonsinful fantasiescouldevenpromptactionsresultinginphysical
or spiritual harmto ourselvesandothers.We canlearnfrom Ecclesiastes12:14, “For Godwill bring
every deed intojudgment,includingevery hiddenthing, whether it is goodor evil.”
As Christians,we mustguardourheartsand mindsfromevil thoughtsandsinful fantasies.The bible tells
us to refrainfromfollowingasthe worlddoes aswe can learnfrom Romans12:2,“Do not conformto
the pattern of this world,but be transformedby the renewingof your mind.Then you will be able to
test and approve whatGod’swill is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect will.”We can alsolearnwhenJohn
reaffirmsitin 3 John 1:11,“Dear friend,do not imitatewhat is evil but what is good.Anyone whodoes
what is goodis fromGod.Anyone whodoes what is evil has not seen God.”We canalsolearnfrom
where Jesusinstructs Hisfollowers asstatedin Luke 21:34,“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed
downwith carousing,drunkennessandthe anxietiesoflife, andthat day will close onyou suddenly
like a trap.”
God knowsour innermost thoughtsand fantasiesandthere isnouse tryingto hide the true motivations
behindourthoughts. We can learnfromwhere the psalmistsays: “YouknowwhenI sit andwhen I rise;
you perceive my thoughtsfrom afar.”(Psalm139:2). Therefore we cannotfool Him.If youstruggle
againstunhealthyfantasiesandwishtostop,seekthe Lordfor help.Andthishelpcomesfromthe bible
and as such we needtoreadstudyand meditate onHisword.Because we can learnfrom Hebrews 4:12,
“Forthe word ofGodis alive andactive. Sharper thanany double-edgedsword,it penetrates even to
dividingsoul andspirit,jointsandmarrow; it judges the thoughtsandattitudes of the heart.”

2. As believerswe needtobearinmindthat God will alwaysforgive the repentantheart.We can
understandthiswhenthe psalmistsays: “Searchme, God,andknow my heart; test me and knowmy
anxiousthoughts.24 See if there is any offensivewayin me, and leadme inthe way
everlasting.”(Psalm139:23–24). Therefore we needtorememberthat,evenverypowerful fantasies
can be overcome because of the powerof God can eliminate evil thoughtsfromourminds:“Forthough
we live in the world,we do not wagewar asthe worlddoes. The weaponswe fightwith are not the
weaponsof the world. On the contrary, they have divinepower to demolishstrongholds. Wedemolish
argumentsand every pretensionthat sets itselfup againstthe knowledgeof God,and we take captive
every thoughtto make it obedient to Christ.”(2Corinthians10:3–5).