A Product of the Heart
Today, I want to talk about sin. I know, sin is a dirty word – something that we don’t necessarily want to talk about or discuss but it’s vital. We all do it, although sometimes, we tend to call sin a ‘mistake’.
I once heard someone say (when they were asking to pray the sinners prayer with someone), asking this person if they had ever made a mistake – basically, sugar coating a horrible thing like sin into a helpless one like a mistake.
Well it’s time we call a spade a spade. No matter how awful it sounds or makes you feel. We are sinners. Some of us are saved and walking out a walk not bound to sin any longer but there are still some of us that are trapped in sins snare.
There are things we are commanded to do by God. There are behaviours we are supposed to exhibit – if we don’t, we are in sin. Plain and simple. Lust, pride, unforgiveness, greed, lying, gossip – all examples of sin.
Now, please don’t think I’m calling you out – this includes me too! I am not sin-less. Only one man can claim that honor! But, we have to know that when we disobey the commandments set forth by God and dishonor His Word then we are IN sin.
Let’s look at some scripture. Grab your Bible and read Genesis 3 – here we find the account of the first sin.
Adam and Eve had no worries. God placed them in a beautiful garden with everything they could ever want or need. I hear people all the time say that, ‘if I didn’t have this (insert problem here), I could follow God more easily’ or ‘If my husband would just act right, I could do what I’m supposed to do in Christ’ or even, ‘If all my bills were paid, I could have more faith!’ See, the problem comes when our relationship with God is conditional.
Adam and Eve had NO worries. They had NO bills, NO stress, NO nagging or gossip, NO lust or greed – but the one thing they did have: free will.
Isaiah 14:12-14 gives us an insight into the enemy’s will. Basically, it’s an account of satan’s gospel.
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ”I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
It wasn’t enough for him to be the anointed angel – he wanted to be God! Does it make sense now??
Every sin we commit makes it root in satans words, ‘I will’. Of course, the opposite of ‘I will’ is ‘Thy will’. Thy will denotes obedience. I will denotes disobedience and selfishness. God wants to bless us, to grow us, to give us hope and a future (Jer. 29:11) but satan means to thwart God’s blessing by tempting us to seek our own will!!
Sin is a product of the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says that the heart is more decietgul than anything else. Moreover, one of the meanings of the Hebrew word for decietful means, one who lies in wait. Wow!
Sometimes, we can let our heart convince us that we deserve the one thing that we’ve been denied. What harm can it do?
Psalm 106:15 says that God gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul. We can justify our disobedience and our sin but nothing good or righteous comes from it. We can’t change our hearts, only God can. And, when we give it to Him completely to Him, He can make us new.
Friends, I ask that you look closely at your heart – clearly and objectively. If there is any sin there, confess it and ask God to do His glorious work within you. You have so much to offer Him and He desires to have your whole heart.
Choose Thy Will – not your will.
Blessings to all,
