Cure for a Deceitful Heart

by Rev. Brian Gordon

Hatred. Racism. Murder. Destruction. Anarchy.

All of these things are the symptoms of one root cause: SIN.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it” (Jeremiah 17:9)? So what are we to do? Continue to hate? Spew racist ideology? Fight everyone who disagrees with us? I mean, the heart is deceitful and beyond cure. Or does it have to be?

“Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24b-25a)!

I know things seem dark right now. Our nation is crippled by the COViD-19 pandemic (whether real or contrived). People are outraged because they feel their rights are being threatened or taken away. Others are outraged because they feel no one is taking this seriously enough.

Many African Americans are enraged because yet another unarmed black man was killed by an offi cer who is supposed to be protecting us. A city is on fi re because of a senseless and preventable act, one we have seen played out way too often. Others call the looters and violent protesters thugs who should be in jail.

“The heart is deceitful ...” But, “thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” There is hope in Jesus Christ, because in Christ, there is: - No condemnation (Romans 8:1) - Freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17) - Neither black nor white (Galatians 3:28) - Love (Romans 12:9-13) - Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) - Hope (Hebrews 6:19)

Then why all these problems? I mean, those outside the church have an excuse. But what about those who call themselves Christian? Why do we still hate? Why are Christians sometimes the most racist people? Why don’t we look any different than the world? Why? Because many who hold the moniker Christian haven’t let Jesus deal with the root problem. But you might say, it’s not possible … we can’t be perfect. Or, it’s those other people’s fault.

Maybe you haven’t read John 8:34-36: “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

If we truly grasped this; if we truly allow God to cut the root from our hearts; if we are set free to be all God called us to be, what would change? How different would the world be? Our churches? How different would our response to injustice be? How quick to forgive would we become? Oh, that we would dig past the symptoms, expose the root, and allow God, through Jesus, to excise the sin from our hearts!

Rev. Brian Gordon is the senior pastor at Riverside EMC in Salem, VA.