Dirty Laundry List

 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9

    Is mankind inherently good? Do we have it naturally within ourselves to do the right thing? The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that there is no one good, no not one. (Romans 3:23, Psalm 53:3) 

    I heard on a television program the other day that those who believe in evolution also believe that man is constantly evolving, always progressing and so, without any belief in God or the Original Sin, they believe mankind is inherently good. What do you say?

    I investigated three different lists in Scripture which describe the heart of mankind. These dirty laundry lists (as found in Romans 1, Galatians 5 and Mark 7), which are said to come from the heart of man, include:

    Wickedness, evil thoughts, greed, depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossiping, slander, hatred, insolence, arrogance, boastfulness, sexual immorality, theft, adultery, lewdness, folly, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, drunkenness and orgies.

    Have you seen any of these traits around you today? Have any of these come from your own heart at some time in your life? Check out some of these definitions:

• Depravity: a corrupt act or practice; the quality of being corrupt, evil or perverted
• Malice: the desire to cause pain or distress to another
• Deceit: the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid; dishonest, misleading
• Dissension: disagreements that become violent; angry words, strife, discord
• Faction: a party that has a common end in view; seeking by irregular means to bring about changes in government; a combination of persons using subversive or perverse methods of promoting their own selfish or partisan views; combined disorderly opposition to established authority; turbulence, tumult, dissension

    Based on the proof around you and inside of you, is mankind good? 

    

    Let's face it, we all have laundry to do. What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Let's take a look at a clean laundry list (as found in 1 Corinthians 13 and Galatians 5), what a heart that belongs to the Lord should resemble:

    Patience, kindness, goodness, love, joy, peace, gentleness, self-control, hopefulness, perseverance, trustworthiness, not rude, not envious, not boastful or prideful, not self-seeking, not easily angered, rejoices in the truth.

    We cannot do this by ourselves. Only God can cleanse us from our sins.

"'Come now, let us settle the matter,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1: 18