The womb in which all evils are
generated. By Charles Simeon. Genesis chapter
6, verse 5. The Lord saw how great man's
wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. Jeremiah
chapter 17, verse 9. The human heart is the most deceitful
of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how
bad it is? Mark 7, verses 21 to 22, for
from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality,
theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy,
slander, arrogance, and folly. In the above verses, we see that
the heart is the womb in which all evils are generated. Scripture
delves deep into the core of our being, uncovering the hidden
recesses of our hearts. It exposes the reality that sin
isn't just an external force acting upon us, but a corrupting
agent dwelling within us. Our secret thoughts, desires,
and intentions are laid bare before God. We cannot hide behind
a facade of external morality while harboring inward corruption.
God notices our thoughts as much as He does our actions, and considers
them as characterizing our state before Him. As we think in our
hearts, so are we. In Holy Writ, we learn that God
is concerned with the state of our hearts to the highest degree.
1 Samuel 16, verse 71. Man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart. Psalm 90, verse 8, You have set
our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your
presence. Psalm 94, verse 11, The Lord
knows the thoughts of man. Jeremiah 17, verse 10, I, the
Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. Ezekiel 11, verse
5. I know every thought that comes
into your minds. 1 Corinthians 4, verse 5. He will bring to light what is
hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts.
Ecclesiastes 12, verse 14. God will bring every deed into
judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or
evil. In light of this, let us never
be content with mere external morality, but earnestly seek
the Spirit's inward transformation, purifying our hearts, uprooting
the weeds of sin, and cultivating the fruits of holiness. May we
surrender our thoughts, desires, and ambitions to God, bowing
to his supreme authority in every area of our lives. As we meditate
on the above scriptures, may they serve as a call to self-examination
and a reminder of our desperate need for God's saving grace to
wash away the hidden abominations of our hearts. May our hearts
be cleansed, our minds renewed, and our lives transformed by
the power of the gospel. Proverbs chapter 4, verse 23. Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life. This wise instruction
from King Solomon reminds us that our heart, the seat of our
thoughts, emotions, and desires, is the source of all our actions
and decisions. Psalm 139, verses 23-24 Search
me, O God, and know my heart, test me, and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any wicked way
in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.