INGRAINED EVILNESS
OF MAN
INTRODUCTION
Ingrained evilness of man began in the Garden of Eden in partaking of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6) with violence coming on the scene in Cain’s slaying of his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8). Evilness of man came to a boiling point in the pre-Flood days of Noah when God revealed to Noah (a righteous man): The end of all flesh is come before me for the earth is filled with violence (Genesis 6:13).
It was noted that after the Great Flood (in Noah’s day), mankind was given a fresh start; a blank slate to begin anew. What happened; the ancient evil erupted with a vengeance. Our problem is not eternal; it is in our hearts. We are all family, one race, one people, but sad to say, we are a fallen race and a depraved family.
I have witnessed the former and latter days during a long lifetime; when the former was not marred with the ingrained evilness of man, as it is now. Jesus described the characteristics of the time leading to the end of the age. He said there would be religious deception, political unrest, natural disasters, wars, and the persecution of believers in Him. In the face of all these happenings, Jesus encouraged believers to persevere in faithfulness. He said: He that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved (Matthew 24:13).
Ingrained Evilness of Man
Description of Such
The engrained evilness of man is described by the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem (King Solomon) (Ecclesiastes 1:1): This is the evil among all things that are done under the sun; that there is one event to all; the heart of sons of all men is full of evil, and madness is in the hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead (Ecclesiastes 9:3).
It was noted that a very great evil, a very sore one, the worse of evils, is to harden oneself in sin, and to despise religion as an unprofitable thing. We are witnessing those words being played out today as ungodliness is allowed to nourish, with few bearing reproach toward such activity. I do thank God for those individuals, who are attempting to make a difference, but the ingrained evilness of man is making it difficult to make headway; with a need for a great spiritual revival.
One can readily note when the fullness of evil with the heart set to do evil, towards satisfying lusts, and in direct opposition to those who attempt to oppose such. The Prophet Isaiah prophesied of such a time: Woe to them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20-21). The ingrained evilness of man is often on full display; with those who love to have it so fully embracing its ungodly features and proudly promoting its livability.
Contend for Old Path
In regards towards offsetting the ingrained evils of mankind; the Lord spoke through the Prophet Jeremiah: Thus saith the Lord, stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths (way of righteousness), and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls, but they said, we will not walk therein (Jeremiah 6:16). It was further noted that the people’s stubborn refusal to walk in the traditional ways of true righteousness was often mentioned by Jeremiah. Moving in their own paths (ungodliness) and following their own way (evilness of man) could lead only to destruction.
In speaking the words of the Lord, Jeremiah continued in speaking: I set watchmen over you, saying, hearken to the sound of the trumpet; but they said, we will not hearken (Jeremiah 6:17). Then pronounced judgment: Hear, O earth; I will bring evil (calamity) upon this people (a rebellious people), even the fruit of their thoughts (evil thinking) because they have not hearkened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it (Jeremiah 6:19).
Due to the ingrained evilness of man, there are fewer watchman sounding the alarm; allowing the climate of evilness to reign; even the church, in some cases, by allowing tolerant and acceptability rather than upholding the Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God.
No Reverence for God
It was noted that where there is no fear of God, no reverence for God, every evil can and will abound. The idea that we humans will be good without God is a deceptive fallacy. When people are devoid of the knowledge and wisdom that come from believing God and having reverence for Him, they become morally corrupt, exceedingly evil, violent and destructive. As the ingrained evilness of man is elevated; those words come alive, as to what takes place when evilness is allowed to reign rather than the righteousness of God.
Availability and enhancement of evilness is multiplied many times over through the Internet, modern day television and movies, due to people of influence promoting its acceptability, and other venues promotion. Ingrained evilness of man is difficult to be rooted out with such support; along with the profit of its promotion.
Death of the Wicked
The ingrained (unrepentant) evilness of man has often necessitated God’s eventual judgment. The Prophet Ezekiel, in speaking the word of the Lord revealed it is not God’s ultimate desire: As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn you, turn you from your evil ways (ingrained evilness of man) (Ezekiel 33:12). It is more pleasing to God that a man should repent of his sins, and forsake his sinful nature, than to go on in his sins, and bring destruction to himself.
Jonathan Edwards sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” contained these words: Consider the fearful danger that you are in: You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder.
You have no interest in any mediator, and nothing to hold on to save yourself, nothing to keep the flames of wrath away, nothing of your own, nothing that you have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. Those words still ring loud and clear today towards endangered souls who are about to descend into eternity without the benefit of a Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ), unless repentance comes prior to Judgment Day.
Judgment Day
In regards to the ingrained evilness of man and the result of such, Scripture reveals: It is appointed unto man once to die but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Apostle John spoke of such a judgment: I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened, and the other book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things, which were written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 20:12). Whosoever was no found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (a literal burning hell) (Revelation 20:15). This reveals that the very essence of one’s life is being recorded in heaven.
It was noted that the dead are the unbelieving dead of all ages. They are judged from two sets of books. The books contain the record of every unsaved person’s life. Each unsaved person is judged in accordance with his works (life), which clearly show that such is a guilty sinner. The book of life contains the name of every person who has received eternal life though Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Apostle Paul wrote: Being made free from sin (through Christ), and become servants (dedicated) to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the ways of sin (the ingrained evilness of man) is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ as our Lord (Romans 6:22-23). Apostle John wrote: He that believes on the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) has everlasting life; and he that believes not the Son shall not see life (eternal life in Heaven); but the wrath of God abides (remains) on him (towards a literal burning hell) (John 3:36). Salvation of the soul lies with the choice being made, and lived, prior to judgment day.
Love of God
Scripture reveals: God so loved the world (you and I), that he gave his only begotten Son (the Lord Jesus Christ), that whosoever believes on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life (the only assurance of such is confession of one’s sin towards salvation of the soul). The ingrained evilness of man is lifted; with acceptance of Christ as one’s Lord and Savior.
Scripture reveals God’s desire for mankind: God sent you his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him (the Lord Jesus Christ) might be saved (John 3:17). The opportunity if made available for all to either accept or reject God’s offer of salvation from the ingrained evilness of man inherited in the Garden of Eden.
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