Why are people so horrible to each other? Many who seem like friendly people can turn on you in a moment because of what lies hidden in their hearts. Even those in the churches, people who claim to be good Christians. They fight, argue, gossip, deceive, and slander one another to get the upper hand. Sometimes it is out of jealousy, arrogance, or pride. But whatever the symptoms are, the root cause is always the same. It always comes done to one thing, sin.
The phrase “root cause” is defined to be “a factor that caused a nonconformance and should be permanently eliminated through process improvement. The root cause is the core issue, the highest-level cause, that sets in motion the entire cause-and-effect reaction that ultimately leads to the problem.”
Sin is the root cause that sets in motion the bad behavior of men, women, and children. It leads to the eventual rottenness of every person’s heart who does not seek to eliminate it. But, just like many diseases, it can annihilate the host if not treated properly. We all have this sinful nature, a propensity to do what is wrong instead of what God says is right.
You can even see the effect of a sinful nature at work in a little toddler. They sometimes throw temper tantrums when they don’t get what they want. Many can attest to the fury these little ones sometimes can manifest, and if they had the means, they would hurt us. But they have yet to learn to speak or understand much of what they are doing. It is the inward desire to do wrong instead of good and why we must teach them to do what is right.
The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
Sin is like a poison that resides among the roots of a tree. It gets sucked up with water and all nutrients. Then it defiles the inside of the tree, causing it to rot and bear bad fruit. The contaminated soil must be removed, and clean soil must be put in its place to heal and restore the tree to good health. Jesus said it best when He talked about this matter.
“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:17-20
Jesus also said, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. These are what defile a person. Matthew 15:18-20
Not only does everyone have a sinful nature, but for a time, it brings pleasure. But, like everything in this world, it does not last forever. Sin always leads to misery, and God says it leads to death. It rots the inner man from the inside out and makes goodness impossible without God’s intervention.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. James 1:14-15
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Think of it this way. Sin is a poison you drink, thinking you will harm someone else. A knife that you thrust into your own heart, believing it will make your enemies bleed. Sin is like throwing a boomerang to take out your opponent, just for it to miss and come back to clobber your head.
But repentance is the cure: turning from sin and confessing your sins to Jesus Christ. It is even more than that. Jesus is the cure because He took the punishment you deserve for committing such sins.
He, therefore, can be like an anti-venom that destroys the poison. He is the medical care you need to save your heart, mind, body, and soul. He heals your soul from what sin has sought to destroy. He is like a spring cleaning that cleans out the rubbish and sets your house in order. That restores your mind and heart to what God always intended it to be.
But you must make to choice and effort to turn from your sin. You must turn from your lies, theft, lust, hatred, adultery, coveting, jealousy, cheating, and all things against God’s Law. Stop acting out on the sin in your heart and ask Jesus to forgive you. Ask Him for a new heart and mind, a heart cleansed from the poison that kills.
Jesus is waiting for you to cry out to Him for forgiveness. He has done His part of taking the wrath of God you deserve. Will you do your part? He is offering you salvation and deliverance from a place of punishment called Hell, where all the criminals and sinners on earth will have to suffer.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
As surprising as it may be, all it takes is one lie or evil thought to break God’s Law, just like it only takes one murder to become a murderer. God can not welcome any sinner into Heaven because He is perfect and never sins. So turn today from the poison of sin and cry to God to heal you. His love, mercy, and grace are astounding, but you have little time left. He desires that no one may perish, so cry out to Jesus, who will deal with the root cause of your sickness and grant you eternal life if you repent and follow Him instead of living in your sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:1-12
The Soul Sower 