Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts Back

Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

This morning, this world is still reeling from a universal weakness that is called "humanism." Most think that this way of thinking is good and fine, but man needs not for anyone to puff him up. Man does this in his own nature, and his self-esteem is far higher than it needs to be. Most people think that they can get themselves out of situations based on their own will and desire. Therefore, it should be no wonder why he thinks that he can get himself all the way to heaven. In fact, the longer I live the more I think that people are born into this world Arminians, and most stay that way all their life.

The prophet writes that there is nothing good whatsoever in our heart. This verse harmonizes with another prophet (Isaiah) who declared that there is nothing good in man from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. (Isaiah 1:6) Today, men claim that man should look and follow after their heart. Now, that would be all right if it was not all wrong. Man cannot follow his heart and expect to find goodness, for there is not anything good in it. If man has anything good inside, it is because the Lord has seen fit to change his heart to something pure from Him.

Man, by nature, is nothing short of vile and repulsive. He will begin to exercise that filthy nature upon birth and continue in it. Driving to work every morning, there is a minister (so-called) that has a 3-5 minute devotional on the radio. This morning he was talking about the grace of God. He spent 4.5 minutes preaching grace right down the line. Then, he spent the next 30 seconds ruining everything that he had built up. For, he talked about the grace of God coming down to man in the call of the Lord before we could call on Him. Then, he said to accept and confess Christ to receive the grace from above. How sad! If it is dependent upon our heart calling upon Him, then mankind will forever live and die generation after generation working to get to the same place.

However, that place is as far removed from heaven as far can be. Our heart is worthless and vile, and indeed the song is true, "Poor, weak, and worthless though I am, I have a rich Almighty Friend." How thankful we are to have the knowledge that our rich Friend gave us all the riches He possesses. Even though our hearts were vile, He took them from us and gave pure hearts that are made of flesh. Even though we spent years in bondage cursing and blaspheming His Name, He still sent His Son to save us from our sins. And, if that was not enough, He saw fit to give us knowledge of that blessed truth. Then, if that was not enough, He still is longsuffering and compassionate to us when we still go astray when He has given us the ability to follow after Him. How good He is! I know that I do not deserve the least of His blessings. I know of no other truth that encourages people to good works than to hear of One who has done all that and even more than we can ask or think.

In Hope,

Bro Philip