Harmfulness of Evil Thoughts

Last year I spoke in a meeting for young people. Most of the young men were converts from non-Christian background. The pastor arranged the meeting for young believers they were not actively involved in evangelism, and in the activities of the Church. Finding that there was no growth in the Church, he asked me to preach on ‘problems of young people’. 

To identify their problem, I asked them to write down their personal Spiritual problems in a piece of paper and pass them on to me. When I consolidated the answers, I found that nearly one out of two believers had the problems of evil thoughts. They wanted me to explain the ways to overcome their evil thoughts. Their involvement in the ministry had been hindered by defeat in their thought life. 

Many believers think that the imagination of their heart does not affect anybody and hence it is not harmful. The Bible very clearly teaches that evil thoughts affect the Spiritual life of a believer, and they are very harmful and sinful. Hence one must guard against them like other great sins.

1. It is evil: “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” Gen 6:5.
2. It is an abomination to God: “The Lord detest the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him” Pro 15:26.
3. It is sinful: “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways” Is 59:7.
4. It defiles: “For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immortality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean” Matt 15:19, 20.
5. It hinders our prayers: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” Ps 66:18.
6. It brings trouble: “Hear me and answer me, My thoughts trouble me and I’m distraught” Ps 55:2.
7. It leads to deadly sin and death: “But each one is tempted when by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed then after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full-grown gives birth to death” James 1:14, 15.