Be Of Sin The Double Cure

"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts." 1 Corinthians 4:5 When the Lord comes there will be nothing that is not brought to light. Those things done in darkness, behind the scenes, secretly, bribes and threats and deals, gossip, hatred, sexual sins, and pride of heart ...ALL will be brought to the light, and all that lies in the "counsels of the hearts" will be revealed. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;' Jeremiah 17:9 I try to deny that, but the Holy Spirit gently shows me the truth about myself. Is there any hope for such as I? There IS hope. The God who made us knows how to save us. He knows how to change us. But he will never force it upon us. He has given us the gift of free will. The choice is ours. "CREATE IN ME a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 Every one of us is born in a fallen, sinful state. "None is good, NO NOT ONE" (Romans 3:10). Wisdom is to acknowledge one's fallen state and turn to God for the solution. If a person remains as he is, he will die in his sins. But God offers to all the opportunity to be saved and cleansed and healed and made whole, and in HIM to find true peace and happiness. Turn to him, right now, and ASK. Pray with me: Father, I certainly see myself in your Word. You know the hidden things of darkness within me. You know the selfish, greedy counsels of my own heart from which I seek to get my own way, to get pleasure, to acquire riches and honor, and to look good in the eyes of man. You see in the counsels of my own heart how I always justify myself both to myself and also to anyone who finds fault with me. In my heart I know better than to try to justify myself, but I lie to myself and convince myself that I was justified to do this, that, or the other. But the truth is that I am NOT justified. I am deceitful both to myself and to others. The counsels of my heart are always self-seeking and self-willed. Lord Jesus, I know I need to acknowledge the truth about myself and confess to you my pride and the sins which serve my pride. I am a sinner, Lord, and there's no way I can escape that. I turn to you and plead for the forgiveness of my sins, because your Word says that you bore the judgment on my sins in your own body as you hung on that Cross. You gave your life for my salvation. But more than forgiveness, Lord, I ask you to deliver me from myself. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with me." You are my only hope. But you are the only hope I need. "Be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure." Lyrics from "Rock of Ages"