Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jesus Christ IS risen indeed!
Hallelujah!
Jeremiah 17:9 is not a typical Passion Week nor Resurrection Sunday scripture…
The thief on the cross… The one that believed that Jesus was being unjustly crucified… The same thief that knew he had been justly accused and was receiving the consequences of his actions according to the Roman government. We don’t know this man’s name and sadly, he is usually identified only as the thief on the cross, but the one who believed in Jesus just before He died.
This man’s conversion, can be considered a foxhole come-to-Jesus moment, as he himself was at death’s door. Still, no matter the time of his changed heart nor the length of time of his “living for Jesus”… he died with Jesus and so lives with Him now and forever.
This man’s heart was indeed “desperately wicked” and he surely knew it and was utterly without hope,…
… but God.
In light of Jeremiah 17:9, I got to thinking about the “who can know it” part. Many live their lives thinking they are ok and many think even higher than just ok, but too often it isn’t until we are near the end of ourselves that we have the “come to Jesus moment” and see our life’s choices that have brought us to our miserable end. Sometimes, stubbornly, some still; would rather blame others for their bad selfish choices and so go to a miserable end… singing, “I did it my way!”
However, I’m still stuck on the “who can know” part, because there are people - I was one of them, who thought life was following rules - explicitly. I have confessed such, in past posting, that I am a rule follower. Tell me exactly what’s supposed to be done and I “getter done” with zeal - sounds a bit like the apostle Paul, when he was known as Saul. Father God dealt with him too… just as He has dealt with me.
I see myself in so many folks in scripture… Eve, Tamar 2, Abram, Sarai, Moses, Ruth, Job,…today is Jeremiah, tomorrow, God knows. My point - I did everything that I thought I was supposed to do mainly as a child, (although, for the most part I submitted to the will of my mother to avoid punishment), then as a young adult in college, then as a married woman and then as a mother… Surprise! It did not work out as I thought. Why? Because the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked… and my little pretties many, (all over the world, in all walks of life, the lowly and the rich and famous, to the young and very old…), do not even know it.
It’s not until we have the lightbulb moment - that reckoning, like the thief on the cross, (not that one must be physically dying at the time, however is, spiritually until…); who finally understood - it’s not the actions - the doing, but the HEART behind the actions and so, the LOVE OF CHRIST JESUS, IN the actions and it is by the grace of God that we can experience this LOVE. Look at the thief on the cross, …both of them. They did all that they wanted in their lives - like many people. I, like many people, contrary to the thieves, did a lot of what I thought was right, but I could never do enough right to be right with God, because of my heart. All of human creation has this sinful-heart issue - no one can escape this issue, pretend all you want… It will get you where the other thief chose at the very end - to die in his sin, paying the ultimate price for all eternity - in hell.
Choices.
For those who think themselves right with God, because they do all the right things… I’ve heard it said, “standing in a garage once a week for an hour or two, doesn’t make you a car. Translated: attending church and checking that box and other “good works” doesn’t make you right with Father God if your heart is not submitted to HIM. Matthew 7:20-23 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I [,Jesus] profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” These good church folks thought they were doing work for the Lord, but their hearts were far from God and so, deceitful - wicked… to the point of their own otherworldly demise.
Just thinking: does one need to be near death like the thief on the cross, to own-up to the consequences of your choices, (of course, I would venture for query, are we not all terminal - dying?). Of course not, but through reading Father God’s Word, and prayer - seeking Father God earnestly and allowing Him to direct your path - which is scary, but exciting - I’ve learned to loosen my grip on my controls, (it’s taken a long time for me to do this), but there is a peace that comes that I can not explain - only to say -but God. I would even suppose that this peace is what the thief experienced as Jesus held onto his hand, Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with Me in paradise”, (what an invitation!) Jesus was taking the thief’s hand… as He alone takes hold of those who willingly call on His name. We don’t take His hand - He takes ours - BIG difference. Jesus did the work - always and forever - semper et in aeternum
Soli Deo Gloria
Nina
No comments:
Post a Comment