Constipated Consciousness

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Paralysis, callousness and constipation are the traits of consciousness and character which result from walking in the Vanity of the Mind,

Ephesians 4:17-19  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you walk not as Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

There are a number of very descriptive terms in this short section, which visually and accurately describe the developing quality of a person’s consciousness and character as they live out their lives with their own thinking exalted to the throne of God.

walk – to go from one place to another; here used of one’s thinking.
other – The King James has this word just before the word Gentiles.  Most texts omit this word, as I have.
Gentiles – literally, “the nations” …. every human being except those born of Israel or       those born of the spirit of God.
vanity – empty as to results, fruitless, without fruitful purpose, useless
mind – nous, the organ of mental perception and thought
understanding – dianoia, from the same root as “mind”, means a thinking through, from which we get the word “diagnose.”
darkened – literally, this phrase reads “being darkened in the ability to figure things out.”
alienated – literally, to become “other than.”
life – zoe, life in general
of God – which is God’s, owned by God, which is God’s makeup, or nature
through – dia, by means of, on account of
ignorance – agnosis, lacking any experience with or personal knowledge of
because of – dia
blindness – porosis … hardening, callousness
heart – where the Greeks believed the real self resided
being past feeling – to put off the feeling of pain, be paralyzed
given themselves over unto – surrendered to
lasciviousness – licentiousness, no boundaries or limits
uncleanness – akatharsis – that which stops up, prevents flow or expulsion …. constipation
greediness – insatiable craving

“Everyone in the world who is not walking by either an external moral code which deals with the flesh  (Israel) or by the spirit of God (the church of God) are instead going from one place to another in the fruitlessness of their own thinking which is continually endeavoring to control, order, understand and save the world (trying to be God) through its own efforts.  The result of this fruitless quest is a mental feeling around in the dark with no experience of the life of God (which is the true light of mankind), which they cannot experience because the seat of their personal life has become calloused.  Being thus paralyzed from any feeling, they have surrendered themselves completely to a more and more empty, unfulfilling life with no boundaries, resulting in a constipation of thought and character which continues to grow worse and worse as they pursue their vanities with an insatiable craving.”

Trapped in a life where that stopped up feeling, that constipation of consciousness never goes away, where I have to try harder and harder to feel anything, where my actions are more and more outrageous, but where I feel less and less any satisfaction, I cannot seem to figure out any why’s or wherefore’s, but rather am caught in a deadening cycle of trying and failing, where nothing is clearly seen and no way out shows itself.  I am like a dead body trapped in a coffin, and the life and light of God are but words with no meaning.

Ephesians 4:20, 21  But you have not so learned Christ.  If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.

I’ll let you read how the new man can take the place of the old man.  And read you must.

Life was never meant to be lived in vanity, with our own thinking and feeling at the center of all that is true.  Unlike the lying promise of Satan in the garden, we are not God and we never will be God.  Trying to be Him and do what only He can do is what makes our lives miserable and eventually kills us.

In our physical lives we eat and drink and pee and poop; we breathe in and out.  There is a flow, in and out.  And so with the life of God.  We receive, we give, we share, we let go of all things not beneficial, or when the benefit has ended; we share what is beneficial, knowing that the One who gave it originally will continue to give more.  This is a life which is quite opposite that of the nations, but it is the life designed by God and made available to us by Jesus Christ.

We don’t need to hoard physical possessions or bad feelings.  We know God will give us what we need for our benefit, and enough to share with others.
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