MESSAGES
The Heart of Man is Deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
One of the strongest truths about our nature and about divine omniscience is recorded in the book of the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 17:
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
» The Danger of a Deceitful Heart
Jeremiah exposed a hard reality for our lives at a moment when God was rebuking the people of Israel: the heart of man is deceitful. It becomes even more corrupt and dangerous when we refuse to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, when we distance ourselves from God, and when we allow ourselves to be carried away by spiritual coldness. When our emotions begin to direct our lives, we are inevitably led into dry and desert paths.
» The God Who Searches the Thoughts
The Lord declares that He searches the heart and tests the thoughts. He knows the truth about who we are, and in reality, God knows us better than we know ourselves.
How many times do we refuse to accept this truth? By following our own heart, we often make wrong decisions, accumulate frustrations, and reap terrible consequences—both for ourselves and for those around us.
» What Is the Way Out?
What, then, is the way to deal with this deceitful heart and prevent it from bringing destruction?
The only solution is to draw near to the Lord, seeking refuge under the shadow of the Almighty, as Psalm 91 teaches us.
Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Near God, we are able to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, who directs us, guides us, warns us, and leads us along a path of blessing and power.
» The Journey Toward Salvation
It is clear that our life in this world is hard and full of challenges, beginning with the fact that this is not our final home. Just as the people of Israel walked through the desert to reach the Promised Land, we also walk through the “desert” of this world toward eternal salvation, guaranteed by Jesus Christ to His faithful ones.
During this journey, difficulties will arise, but the Lord will always be by our side, protecting us, sustaining us, and caring for our needs and emotions.
Be strong and persevering, seeking every day the voice, the comfort, and the teaching of the Lord, so that you may have a full life and, on the final day, arrive safely in the presence of the Most High!
Therefore, may your heart be silent so that you may hear the heart of God. May your emotions be controlled by your spirit, in total submission to the Holy Spirit, so that all may go well with you.
