Good Morning.
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6:5-6)
The way mankind is described here is astounding. In the days before the flood, man’s wicked actions became so abundant and so egregious that God came to regret that He had made man. Men’s hearts – the seat of intellect and purpose – were driven, not only to defy God’s authority but to corrupt God’s purpose for humanity and for the earth. Upon witnessing this, the Creator is described as exhibiting feelings in a way that we could understand — it tore at His heart and eventually forced Him to take action.
Imagination, fueled with the knowledge of good and evil, can be a dangerous attribute. Throughout history, it has produced death, disease and chaos, demonstrating that for men to have lived forever in such a state would have been disastrous for humanity at large. It seems cruel to say but, in reality, death to men is mercy to mankind.
That being said, God still chooses to work through men and women — imperfect men and women no less — to advance His purpose in the earth. Through His people He seeks to reveal that every intent of His heart is to be kind and merciful to His creation. He is not a God that looks for a reason to destroy men’s lives but, to the contrary, looks for a reason not to. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive and so it is our duty to faithfully represent that truth to everyone we encounter. Personally, I want Him to be glad that He made me, not grieved. Therefore it is my duty — it is our duty — to make sure our hearts are in sync with His.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments