All we like sheep have gone astray
~ Isaiah 53:6 ~
Humanity has solved some great natural mysteries and enigmas. Scientists have tested hypothesis and derived theories that have answered some of man’s greatest puzzles. What causes sickness? Is the moon made of cheese? Why is the sea salty? Mankind’s mind has an innate desire to solve the great mysteries of the natural world.
Of all the enigmas that have escaped man’s prowess, none is more baffling then: why do people do wrong? When a person looks at it objectively it seems senseless that humans would kill, steal and otherwise wrong his fellow man. It seems absurd that we would wage war and destructively subjugate our neighbors, or senseless that we would envy our co-worker who was honored for excellent performance. In an ideal world, why can’t we get along? Why do we hate instead of love?
James puts it succinctly: “Where do war’s and fights come from? Don’t they come from your selfish ambitions that war in your internal man?” All the way back in the post Edenic world, Cain killed his brother out of selfish envy that gave way to hatred (Genesis 4:1-15, I John 3:11.12) and resulted in murder.
Modern culture has advanced the theory that man is basically good. If we fan the flame of human potential or educate the head, children will choose the right. However, the Bible advances a completely contradictory premise. In Jeremiah 17:9 God says: “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it?” In Genesis 6:5 the Bible says of man’s heart: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only wicked continually.” Therefore, it is important that we understand that we do not become sinners when we sin but we sin because we are sinners. Why does a dog return to its vomit? Why does a pig return to wallowing? Because it is its nature! Why do we sin? Because it is our nature!
This is not to excuse our behavior or remove our responsibility, but it does establish our need of a Savior. Isaiah 53:6 goes on to say: “and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Look unto Him and be saved all ye ends of the earth!
Because of grace,
Tim
