THE CONTEXT OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

What exactly does the Bible mean when it uses the word Meditation?

The Expression "Meditation" is used by a whole Host of Philosophies
and religions ranging from the Mahareshi Mahesi Yogi (Transcendental
Meditation) to the religions of Hinduism and Buddism. Meditation is
especially popular and basically had it's foundation in the Orient.

Christian Meditation is much Different from all the others religions
of the world.  It stands in the context of the Biblical message of
salvation.  This we must know before we will be able to completely
understand the meaning and importance of Christian Meditation.
 

Christian Meditation as we shall see as we progress through these text
files, is entering into a very real and dynamic fellowship with the
the Father.  But before that can be, we must first understand Who God
is, What is He like? How can we get to know and have fellowship with
Him?

GOD, THE CREATOR ===

Read Genesis 1; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; I Corinthians 8:6.

The Bible is a Book which contains the words that God breathed life
into, they disclose God to Man, and it is here that we meet the Person
who causes us to meditate. 1) He is the eternal one. Time and space
begin in Genesis 1, but God is before time. Genesis 1:1 - He is the
unbeginning beginning of all that is.

2) He is the Creator of Earth and Space. He, therefore, contains space
 within Himself. The Limitless One who contains all that is measured
 and Himself, Measureless. I Kings 8:27.

3) He is the original Person.. Genesis 1, does not speak of mere force
or energy being the beginning of all that is, but One who speaks -- A
Person.

4) Before He created there was nothing but Himself. All that is was
created from His faith. Hebrews 11:3.  The material that makes up the
universe is not God but was made by Him and is an objective reality to
Him.

In stating that we must understand that He fills all that is with His
real presence.  Acts 17:27,28; Jeremiah 23:24. He is the power at the
center of every Atom that Holds creation togather. Colossians 1:17.
Although He is at the center of a blade of Grass, a tree or a living
creature, He is Not that blade of Grass, tree or creature.  The
Christian sees God filling His universe but does not confuse the
universe with Him.

5) Man was created at the end of the creation week. He was and is a
unique creation. He shared with the animals that he was made from dust
(Genesis 2:7,19), but he could not find fellowship with them.  Man was
different, made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:26,27.)  Man
was made a limited beginning person to relate and fellowship with the
unlimited, unbeginning person.

The Choice: ----------

In order for man to actually be the free lord on Earth that he was
created to be. He had to make a choice.  All other creatures were
programmed to obey the Creator. Man, made in the image of that
Creator, is the only unprogrammed member of creation.  He must choose
to be who he is, a creature, and so worship the creator--drawing life,
direction and understanding from Him.  Man chose to rebel against God,
not accepting his creaturehood, but setting himself up as God. Genesis
3:5.  Let us consider what this has done to man.  By refusing to
submit to the one who arranged and ordered the universe, man chose a
path of disorder and chaos.

God is Life.  So when man rebels against Him, he is in fact embracing
the opposite of God(Life), Satan(Death). Genesis 2:17. Man also
entered into a state of both mental and spiritual Darkness and has
followed the Liar (satan) instead of God by whom we know truth.  Only
when we become servants of the truth are we truly free.  People who do
not Know God and make fun of christians often use the phrase "Yea, but
I am free to Drink, take drugs, smoke etc.. and you are not", well, if
they think that the right to destroy themselves is freedom, then you
can see the lie and deception they are following.  But the fact is,
Although they may be free to do all that; we are even more free,
because we as christians are Free NOT to do those things, they are
not.  When mankind walked away from God they actually walked away from
Wisdom Himself and entered a life of foolishness. Romans 1:21,22.
Please read for further info Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-22.

Man forgot who he was and became a lost person ever in search of the
"WHY" for his existance.

our labor on High Street church today.
 Not only did the 200 people who stayed at home lose a blessing,
 but each empty seat did its work against the Lord's kingdom.
 The preacher made unusual preparation, and went with his heart
 on fire, but the empty seats chilled him, and he did poorly."
 
    "There was a special collection, but the best givers were
 away, so it was a failure.  It isn't a smart preacher, nor a
 rich congregation, nor a good location, nor a paid choir, that
 makes a successful church.  It is the church members always
 being there that draws in the unconverted, and makes an eloquent
 preacher

../