"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds."
Ephesians 4:17
The Bible is filled with contrasts, mainly between the conducts of the saved and the unsaved. Ephesians chapter 4 is a useful reference; Galatians 5 is another. How we live is directly related to our standing with God. We can't say we're God's people if we live like the Enemy's sons and daughters.
One of the things I observe in many Christians is a willingness to compromise. We expose the Lord's Name to danger by living licentiously. We justify our actions by saying, "If others can do it, why can't we?, or "There's no one watching, anyway!"
We think that violating something is fine because others are doing it or it’s okay as long as we don't get caught. Sure, some people deliberately disobey God and the laws of the land, but should Christians "discreetly" break the rules?
God created the world and set it in motion. He formed the boundaries between the water and the land. He ordained the sun to light the world during the day and the moon during the night. He also gave us a conscience to act as a warning device concerning morality. Even a person who is utterly alien to the Bible knows in his heart that stealing is evil. That knowledge of evil is built-in and came to him when his mind was old enough to identify sin.
In our verse of the day, Paul encourages his readers to avoid walking (living) like the Gentiles. He isn't only referring to non-Christian folks because the Ephesians were non-Jews, to begin with. Instead, he is referring to unbelievers—people who willfully follow their sinful desires. They know those things are evil, but they do them anyway.
Our salvation was made possible by Jesus' sacrificial death on the Cross. But this offer of deliverance must be received by faith. What some people fail to recognize is that salvation also involves repentance (Greek "metanoia"), which means "a change of mind." When we come to Christ, our outlook on life changes radically, including our view of God, sin, values, desires, and how we interpret life.
On the other hand, an unbeliever's mind is bent on disobeying God and following his selfish desires. Everything he ever does, including his good works, ultimately leads to nothing (Isaiah 64:6). God is not pleased even if an unbeliever gives away all of his assets to others. As long as he does not acknowledge Christ and submits to Him, an unsaved person is lost and hopeless.
In Romans 12:2, Paul encourages Christians to allow God to transform their minds, which will help them discern God's will. In Philippians 4:8, Paul lists down at least eight good things Christians are to fill their minds with.
My friend, your mind is a battlefield. It's either a breeding ground for evil or a library of righteousness. That's why it is essential to filter the things you allow to enter your mind. Stay away from the evil, sinful deeds used to attract you and strive to do things that please God and benefit others.
Pursue the Saviour today!