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Imagine if people could hear your thoughts without you ever saying a word. In other words—telepathy. Many people dream of this as a superpower, but the truth is, what once belonged to the realm of science fiction is edging closer to reality.
I read with interest this week that researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have already developed a device called AlterEgo, described as a “near-telepathic wearable” that enables “silent communication at the speed of thought.”
At first, the idea sounds fascinating: no spoken words, no typing, no gestures – just thoughts, instantly shared. But think about it: what if people had constant access to our unfiltered thoughts? Not just the good and kind ones, but also the complaints, criticisms, anxieties, and secret desires we try to hide. Suddenly, it doesn’t sound so appealing.
This raises a profound question: what do we actually spend our time thinking about and how would we feel if every thought that crossed our minds could be overheard by others?
If we’re honest, our inner world isn’t always as polished as the face we present to others. Much of our mental space is filled with grumbling about others, longing for what we don’t have, or reliving past experiences while neglecting gratitude for the present moment.
Yet perhaps such transparency wouldn’t be entirely bad. If we knew someone was listening in, we’d probably be far more careful about what we allowed to linger in our minds. Accountability – even at the level of thought – might push us toward living with greater integrity in not only words and actions, but also our character.
For Christians, this idea shouldn’t be too foreign. The Bible reminds us that there is already One who knows our every thought. King David declared: “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:2).
God has always had access to the unfiltered depths of our minds since before we were even born (Psalm 139:13-16). The fears, the bitterness, the hidden shame, the fleeting daydreams – nothing is hidden from Him (1 Chronicles 28:9; Hebrews 4:13).
And while His mercy and patience may make us forget to live accountably before Him (Psalm 103:8; 2 Peter 3:9), as Christians we are called to more. We are called to resemble our Heavenly Father in His beautiful holiness and goodness (Leviticus 19:2; Matthew 5:48).
Paul reminds us:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).
And “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
It’s a high standard to live up to. Yet in the light of eternity, it’s worth remembering that heaven itself will be a place of complete transparency, where nothing is hidden. Our time on earth is a preparation for that reality. And on the day of judgement, it won’t just be our actions that are weighed, but also our thoughts and intentions (Hebrews 4:12-13; Jeremiah 17:10).
So, while a futuristic world of “thought-sharing” isn’t too far off in the future, God already reads us like an open book. The good news is that not only does He not condemn us, He gives us the Holy Spirit to help renew and discipline our thoughts, drawing them closer to His (Romans 8:1; John 3:17; Romans 8:5-6; Ephesians 4:23-24). And we have the daily invitation to allow Him to cleanse our thought life through Scripture and prayer.
So, why not begin training now? Whether spoken or unspoken, let our thoughts bring glory to God.
