The Power of Imagination
Genesis 11:6
"And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."
The power of an imagination is amazing. What the mind can picture can be powerful and must be controlled to keep it from imagining the wrong things. The imagination of an individual starts from childhood and continues through adulthood. When I was a child, I can remember how my imagination would help me to enjoy playing with the most simple things. My brother and I would take the stripes on our bedspread and make them the streets for our matchbox cars. A friend of mine and myself would take sticks and treat them like guns and we would go through the forest acting like we were soldiers fighting a war. Our imaginations created the scenes in our minds and the actions that we performed.
The people in the verse above used their imagination, but they used it in the wrong manner. You will notice that they imagined building a tower to Heaven. Their imagination caused them to unite for one cause. Their imagination gave them drive. Their imagination caused them to sin. Their imagination led to focus that would let nothing restrain them from fulfilling their dream. The actions of these people prove that adults still have an imagination, and that the imagination can be used for good or bad.
You must be careful what you allow your mind to imagine. One's imagination shows their creativity, but creativity can be used for good or bad. If the imagination of an individual is not kept under control, then their imagination can lead to sin. God says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" If a person does not control their thought life, then their imagination will create wrong dreams and desires. Much of what Hollywood produces is the result of an uncontrolled imagination. The writers of their movies allow their minds to imagine the wrong things, and it produces the wrong pictures. If you don't control what you allow yourself to think about, then you will have problems with your imagination.
On the other hand, a mind that is controlled by Christ can produce a good imagination. Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" When we allow the mind of Christ to control our mind, then our imagination will create right desires. A good imagination will drive the Christian to do great things for God. A good imagination will cause a Christian to stay focused on the will of God. A good imagination will give the Christian the wherewithal to keep going through adverse circumstances. A good imagination will not allow obstacles to restrain them from doing what God has laid on their heart.
You have a choice, you can either have a bad imagination that will lead to sin, or you can have a good imagination that will drive you to do more for God. Be careful what you allow your mind to think about. If you will allow the Spirit of God to control your mind, then the Spirit of God will give you a good imagination. Everyday you need to yield your mind to the Holy Spirit of God and ask Him to control your imaginations. Ask Him to cause you to have the right thoughts and to keep you from having thoughts of foolishness and sin. Be careful what you allow your eyes to see, for your eyes will feed your imagination. Let your imagination be one that would glorify God with the images it creates. If you will let the Holy Spirit control your imaginations, then you will find that it will lead to right actions.