Breakfast Rambling -- Depression: Failure of the Brain – A Part of the Flesh

Here is the first Breakfast Rambling post that I ever made.  It was originally posted on June 7, 2010.  I have edited it slightly. :-)

[Note: These observations are just things that I thought about in my breakfast Bible reading. They are not intended to be commentary on the “meaning of the text”. They are my *thoughts*, in any case not doctrine. If you don’t agree, that’s fine. Please don’t make a big issue out of it.

I usually write these thoughts down in a blank book, and this is the source of most of the items I’ll be posting here under this category.]

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Notice that the flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of our heart. Christians understand mind (brain) failure when it is Alzheimer's or something of that nature. But, sometimes (too often), they think failure of the brain to produce chemicals needed for mental/emotional health is different because it leads to depression, anxiety or even insanity. They look only on the outward appearance and not on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and conclude that the sufferer is “not right with God” or maybe not even born again.

Yet, we know the brain is part of the flesh.

Somehow in people’s thinking the brain is different because it is strongly associated with the mind, thinking, reasoning and emotions (in western culture). But, our brain doesn't go with us to heaven when we die. It is part of the flesh that awaits resurrection, and it is left behind till that glorious day.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

It cannot be perfect now in its corruption, and in that state it may cause many problems while we live. True, there are choices that lead to certain difficulties, and some of us must make the effort to live differently in order to live peaceably within our limitations. But, sometimes something is defective or missing that can be at least partially replaced by man-made or natural remedies – things that have a chemical or other effect on the brain to correct imbalances and such.

Christians are willing to understand the failure of the flesh in many areas and many ways: back trouble, heart attacks, broken bones, deficient eyesight, strokes, dental problems, cancer, vitamin and mineral deficiencies – the list goes on and on and on. It is time to realize that the mind – really the brain – is part of the flesh and can be physically as well as emotionally affected by the curse of the fall. We all die in Adam – we all suffer the curse of death in our physical bodies. This may cause us considerable trouble in this life. But, thank God that in Jesus Christ we are made alive and our vile flesh can and will be redeemed and made perfect through Him!

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.