Is Your Mind Vain?
While the grace of God freely pays the penalty for our sin, it does not excuse or permit sin. Grace does not mean sin goes unpunished—it means the punishment was placed upon our Lord Jesus Christ. He became a curse for us so that we might receive His righteousness and eternal life (2 Cor 5:21, Gal 3:13, Rom 6:21). Given such an immeasurable gift, why would we waste the life we have in Christ by walking after the sinful works of the flesh? Don’t you know that your old man is crucified with Christ, and you now have new life in Him (Rom 6:1-6)?
One possible reason we do and others do is a vain mind.
The Vain Mind: Empty, Darkened, and Deceived
After laying a strong doctrinal foundation in the first three chapters of Ephesians, detailing what the Body of Christ is, how we are placed into it, and our new identity in Christ, the Apostle Paul shifts his focus. He begins to exhort believers to walk worthy of their calling in the last three chapters. This includes a stark warning:
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other 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.” – Ephesians 4:17-19
Paul describes the vain mind as one that is:
Empty of truth and lacking substance,
Darkened in understanding,
Alienated from the life of God, and
Blinded by ignorance, leading to sinful indulgence.
While this describes every unsaved person, the tragic reality is that many Christians still walk as the lost do—vainly pursuing the things of this world. When we trust in the lies, pleasures, and false promises of the world, they always lead to spiritual death. There is no lasting truth, hope, joy, or peace outside of Christ. If we seek these things elsewhere, we will continue to walk after our own lusts, effectively trying to be our own god.
The Remedy for Vanity: Faith in God’s Grace
The solution to a vain, empty mind is faith in God and a clear understanding of His grace. Vanity is a lack of substance; faith, on the other hand, has substance:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1
That substance is Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. We were undeserving, yet God, in His grace, provided eternal redemption.
So, how do we grow in faith and combat a vain? By studying and believing God’s Word:
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13
Grace does not just crucify our old man, it empowers us to live victoriously. If we desire to walk worthy of our calling in Christ, we must allow God’s truth to transform our minds:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2
It’s time to stop making excuses for why we prioritize the vain distractions of the world over the things of God. Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. We will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8). Choose today to walk not in vanity, but in the substance of faith, grounded in God’s Word and His grace.
