Premise —> Conclusion

Most of our views of things are conclusions.  We’ve already made up our minds regarding this or that, and then we go about our business thinking that’s just the way it is.  But what if the premise your conclusion is based on, is faulty?  What if you started with wrong information?  The consequence would be that you’d end up in the wrong place.  What??

Well, let’s look at some pretty common conclusions about the body, for example: I’m overweight, I’m old, I’m sick.  You can take a look in the mirror or you can gauge your feelings and say, “Yep, seems true to me.”  Yet the information you’re relying on to come to that conclusion may be wrong.  In fact, if it comes from the human mind, I’ll guarantee you that it IS wrong!

That’s because the human mind has nothing but its own viewpoint to put forth.  This is the same mind that sees illusions like railroad tracks converging in the distance.  Or that thinks the sun is setting and rising.  The Bible offers a different option: lean not unto your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)  And just as we can be educated to understand that railroad tracks actually follow a strict and consistent spacing, and that the earth is doing the rotating, we can be educated to have different views about the body – and about everything.

The rest of that passage from Proverbs explains how.  It goes like this: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (verse 6)  Let me say it in modern English: Look to God with all your being.  Don’t trust your own view of things.  Instead, every moment trust Him and He will take care of every detail, no matter what.  Pretty straight forward, don’t you think?

So the next time you catch yourself making a conclusion with a not so happy ending, go back to your premise and see what God has to say about it.  He will definitely give you a better, truer viewpoint – one that you can more happily live with.

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.