I remember those times when our kids would fall asleep in the car and we would have to carry them into the house. They looked so at peace and and so angelic. But then when they would wake up, how things would change. How could these innocent looking children act like a holy terror sometimes when they were awake?
I also remember speaking to a young mother one time. She shared with me how she noticed that her young child, not quite a year old, was starting to express her own mild rebellious will. They figure out the wrong things all by themselves! That’s why you have to teach kids to do the right thing.
Today we are seeing more and more teens committing heinous crimes. Some wonder how can an ‘innocent ‘ child grow up to be such a monster? To some degree the answer can be complex. But from a Biblical perspective, it is not that hard to understand.
What does Jesus say about the human condition?
We are born separated from God because of the disobedience of our very first parents. In David’s confession, he declared, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me“. (Ps. 51:5)Through Adam, sin and death entered the world. (Rom. 5:12) We are born with a sin nature and therefore we sin; “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. (Rom. 3:23)
From God’s perspective, Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked”. (Jer. 17:9) Jesus explained, “…out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness”. (Mark 7:21, 22)
What happens when 1+1=3?
Our heart [mind, will, emotion] deceives us into thinking that we aren’t that bad. Because we compare ourselves to others, most of us think that we are good. But if you are honest and compare yourself to God who is holy, you will be convicted of your lack of holiness. If you get this basic truth wrong, it’s like adding one plus one and coming up with three as the answer. You can never understand the problem if you get the basics wrong.
Where does true salvation begin?
It must start with the understanding that in comparison to God, I am not good. “There is none righteous, no, not one”. (Rom 3:10) God is holy. He told Moses, “No man can see Me and live”. (Ex. 33:20) The Lord dwells “in unapproachable light whom no man has seen or can see”. (I Tim. 6:16) The initial step toward God in salvation is when one in humility realizes that God is holy and I am not.
Do not be Deceived!
Most people acknowledge that they do wrong things. They say things like, “no one is perfect” or “we all make mistakes”. Yet most believe they are good enough and deserve heaven. People reason, “I go to church; I help my neighbors; I tried to live a good life; I never killed anyone!” But even our righteousness is like filthy rags to our Holy God. (Is. 64:6)This belief that we are good will condemn many on the day of judgment when many hear Jesus say, “I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:23) DON’T BE ONE OF THEM! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”. (Acts 16:31)
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