Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Jeremiah 17:9 ¶ "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jeremiah 17:9 ¶ "The heart is deceitful above all things And it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives? [Matt 13:15-17; Mark 7:21-23; Eph 4:20-24] |
Subject: Saved or not ? |
Bible Note: We all of us see through our glass darkly. It is always fine to keep in mind our shortcomings, especially when we presume to pass judgment upon other men which, because we do not have the perfect perception that is God's alone, is largely based upon outward appearances. There is a famous passage in 1 Samuel 16:7 that draws a sharp contrast between divine and human perspectives. ..... There was a man whom I once knew who seemed to wear a permanent scowl upon his face, and until I came to know him better, I thought of him and sometimes spoke of him as 'that crabby old man.' Later when our acquaintance grew into friendship, I found him to be one of the kindest and most warm-hearted human beings I've ever known, not at all like the first impressions I had of him. ...... And who has not known a person who made a pleasing initial impression but later showed his true colors, which turned out to be anything but pleasing? ...... I believe it may have been C. S. Lewis -- I'm not absolutely sure -- who related the story about a rather crabby woman in his congregation who barked at about everything and everybody, and rarely seemed quite pleased with anything or acted very pleasant toward other members of the church. A member called C. S. Lewis aside one day and asked him about this woman, whether she was a Christian or just pretented to be. .... "Oh, I don't doubt that she's a regenerate believer," said Lewis. "She has changed considerably since she became a Christian. You see, I knew her before she came to Christ. You should have seen her then." ...... And so, WOS, your call to exercise caution is quite appropriate and applies to us all. It is unwise to place much trust in our perceptions which are at best exceedingly imperfect and woefully inadequate. Shakespeare said, "There is no art to find the mind's contruction in the face." I believe there is neither any art to find in the outward appearance of a man his inner relationship with God. --Hank |