The Heart by Dean Gotcher

The Heart.
("Who can know it," "Abhorreth not evil.")

by
Dean Gotcher

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

Even George Washington understood the nature of man's heart and its effect upon government: "Despotism ....that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, ... predominates in the human heart." (George Washington, Farewell Address) While socialism, i.e., totalitarianism is based upon the heart of man, limited government restrains it—allowing (encouraging) parent's to restrain it in their children (and God to restrain it in them).

"The heart is deceitful above all things [thinking pleasure is the standard for "good" instead of doing the father's/Father's will, i.e., having to set aside your carnal desires ("lusts") of the 'moment' that the world is stimulating, i.e., having to humble, deny, die to, control, discipline your "self" in order (as in "old" world order) to do the father's/Father's will, i.e., in order to do right and not wrong according the father's/Father's established commands, rules, facts, and truth], and desperately wicked [hating the father's/Father's authority that "gets in the way," i.e. that prevents, i.e., inhibits or blocks you from enjoying the carnal pleasures of the 'moment' that the world stimulates]: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

You, dialoguing with your "self," i.e., 'justifying' your "self," i.e., 'justifying' your love of pleasure, i.e., your "lusting" after the carnal pleasures of the 'moment' which the world is stimulating, can not see your hatred toward the father/Father (questioning, challenging, defying, disregarding, attacking the father/Father and his/His authority) as being evil because your love of "self," i.e., your love of ("lust" for) pleasure—which the world stimulates—is "in the way," blinding you to the truth of the deceitfulness and wickedness of your heart, which is not just deceitful but "deceitful above all things" and not just wicked but "desperately wicked," willing to destroy anything that and anyone who gets in its way.

"And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Luke 16:15

It is in the consensus process, where men, dialoguing their opinions, i.e., their "self interests" to a "feeling" of "oneness" with one another, affirming their carnal nature, i.e., their love of pleasure and hate of restraint, 'justify' their "self" over and therefore against God's authority, making their "self" god instead.

"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil." Proverbs 16:5-6

"The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil." Psalms 36:1-4

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:28, 32

"And for this cause [because men 'justify' themselves, i.e., their love of "self" and the world, i.e., their love of pleasure more than God] God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie [that pleasure is the standard for "good," instead of doing the Father's will]: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth [in the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ], but had pleasure in unrighteousness [in their "self" and the world]." 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3, 4

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken." Jeremiah 6:16, 17

"And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable." "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Isaiah 3:4-5, 12 "... and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death." Mark 13:12

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:1-9

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverb. 3: 5-6