Life #33 - The Corrupt Heart, an Obstacle to Life

018/2011-07-30

The prophet Jeremiah wrote a lot about the workings of the heart and it was pretty grim. He said the “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). He questioned if anyone could even know such a heart because of its evil nature. He called the heart revolting and rebellious, filled with pride and haughtiness (Jeremiah 3:17; 5:23; 48:29 KJV).

The apostles in the early church agreed. They wrote that the heart is ineffectual when it doubts, is slow to believe, and is troubled and afraid (Mark 11:23; Luke 24:25; John 14:27 KJV). The heart is full of lusts, is foolish and darkened (Romans 1:24, 21 KJV). Even Jesus revealed the place where adultery is committed—and it was not in the bed—“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28 NIV).

What’s more, the heart is depraved because sin resides there and defiles the whole circuit of our actions. Jesus said, “…those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; These are the things which defile a man…” (Matthew 15: 18-20 KJV).

Yet, worst of all, when Christians harden our hearts (Hebrews 3:15), the resulting unbelief prevents us from entering into any of God’s promises (Hebrews 3:19 KJV)—even the promise of life (John 11: 26 NIV)!

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next year.

Life #5 – Two Life Promises (2 of 2)

Makapu'u 2011

When Jesus claimed to be the resurrection and the life, he gave Christians two life promises. The First is intended for Christians who die (John 11:25 NIV), while the Second is intended for Christians who live:

“…and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26 NIV)

Do Christians believe? We have three ways to answer the Lord:

1) May it be to me as you have said (Luke 1:38 NIV); or,

2) I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief (Mark 9:24 NIV); or,

3) —laugh!—because undisputed facts wipe out little faith (Genesis 17:17; 18:12).

We have been born again of incorruptible seed; that seed must grow into the full-stature Christ (1 Peter 1:23; Ephesians 4:13, 15). Why full stature? The full-stature Son is alive and he said, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Anything less than full-stature and we die.

Unconvinced? The Son gives life and is the image of the invisible God—the very life and image which we originally lost to sin (Colossians 1:15; Genesis 1:27; 2:24). To recover our loss, God planned for us to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29, 30). Even the Holy Spirit is tasked with changing us into the Lord’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18). That image—spirit, soul, and body—is alive today!

The full-stature church is supposed to be “alive and remain until the coming of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15). If not us, then who?

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts from our book to be released next year.