The heart of wickedness by Jacqueline and Marcel Bruff

The human heart is a complex and mysterious entity, capable of both great good and profound evil.

The Bible speaks extensively about the wicked heart, describing it as deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), stubbornly resistant to God's will (Zechariah 7:12), and constantly plotting evil (Proverbs 6:14).

The Nature of Wickedness.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" This verse highlights the inherent corruption of the human heart, which is prone to self-deception and wickedness. Zechariah 7:12 adds, "Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent... and they had a wicked heart." This passage describes a heart that is hardened and resistant to God's voice.

The Fruits of Wickedness.

Proverbs 6:14 paints a vivid picture of the wicked heart: "Perverse lips they have, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief." This verse shows that a wicked heart is characterized by corrupt speech, evil thoughts, and a readiness to engage in sinful behavior.

But what is the ultimate fate of those who persist in wickedness? The Bible is clear: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalm 9:17). Those who refuse to repent and turn to God will face the consequences of their actions. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

The reward of wickedness is destruction, separation from God, and eternal punishment. Revelation 21:8 warns, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimmerstone: which is the second death."

In conclusion, the heart of wickedness is a grave reality that can lead individuals down a path of destruction.

However, there is hope. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, we can experience a transformation of the heart, exchanging our wickedness for righteousness and receiving a new heart that desires to follow God. As Ezekiel 36:26 says, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”

Marcel and Jackie Bruff

@walkgoodinchrist