things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9
I had a rude awakening today. I came face-to-face with the wickedness of my soul, and I did not like it one bit. I made a huge mistake, and I found myself quietly toying with the thought that maybe my mistake was the other person’s fault. This is a big deal because it demonstrates the basic human desire to avoid all responsibility for the wrong we do. I would even go so far as to consider blaming an innocent person of my wrong! This behavior is deceitful because the human heart is deceitful.
Thousands of years ago, the prophet Jeremiah said that the heart is “deceitful” in a similar way that a rocky mountain path might be dangerous to someone who is not being careful of their footing. You don’t dare take your eyes off your next step or take your balance for granted while walking along such a trail. Our hearts are so twisted by our own sinfulness and self-centeredness that there really is no limit to the depths of our depravity. I see my wickedness. Do you see yours?
A heart this wicked does not need to do better, it needs to be born again. Jesus’ mission was to make a way for sinners to be forgiven and transformed into his likeness. Jesus took on our sinfulness, and had it nailed to the cross (Colossian 2:13-15) so that our sins could be rightfully punished while at the same time, allowing us to become the children of God. Do you want to begin this journey of Jesus making you a new person? First, we must repent or turn away from our sins. Secondly, we place our full confidence in Jesus as the Son of God who is able to forgive all the wrong we have done.
