Deceitfully Wicked

This is what God’s Word says about the heart of man, read Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”   This is the condition of an un-regenerated heart because of the sin nature that we were born with.  

From birth we have had a bent towards sin and have loved to carry out its desires.  Mark 7:21-23 says this, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”  From birth our hearts have condemned us being full of deceit and wickedness and all kinds of sinful desires and we have truly been defiled from them.

Romans 1:20-21 says this about the heart, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”  

  

Because of the condition of the heart, man became depraved and these things resulted because of it, read verses 22-32, “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

It is no wonder if man is left to himself, he will end up destroying himself and others along the way.  Take King David for instance when he committed sin with Bathsheba; he broke up a marriage then tried to cover up his sin by having her husband killed, it took about a year before he really repented.  There are other examples of how our hearts deceive us in God’s Word, it is no wonder David said this in Psalms 51:5-11:

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”

David learned something we all need to learn, we all need a new clean heart, one that is soft and pliable not the stony heart we are born with.  I say this with David, “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me, restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit.”  I pray this will take place each and every day.

I have said this Psalm on more than one occasion; I make it my prayer at times changing a few words and maybe adding a few words to make it more personal between me and the Lord.  Praying the scriptures is a very good thing, if you are not doing it try it you may like the results.  By the way the Lord is the only one that can create a new heart in man and it will only be done through a personal relationship with Him.  If you are ready to truly repent of your sins, which means to turn from them, and to ask Him to forgive you, then stop whatever you are doing and take some time with the Lord.  Ask Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life and to fill you with His peace, love and joy and give you a new heart.  When that takes place you will walk away rejoicing, then share it with others and start growing in your new found faith.  Question; what kind of heart do you have?  God bless you and yours and have a super day!!