An Empty Mind And A Darkened Heart

Can you think of anyone more annoying that the ungrateful person? This person takes everything for granted. He or she assumes everything in life is cast upon him or her simply because they exist. The bounty of our nation, the liberty as a people, and for Christians, our salvation in Jesus Christ.

How does ingratitude happen? We turn our hearts from God and turn our eyes upon ourselves. Very simply it means we love ourselves more than we love God. Having a Holy God means we have to live holy lives, and too many of us simply are unwilling to surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

And no one is with excuse for rejecting God; this planet Earth upon which we live testifies to God and when we reject God then His wrath is upon us. Read carefully the Apostle Paul’s indicting words:

    “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:18-23)

Why does man reject God? He supposes himself an intelligent being and believes he can do all things through himself. This of course is contrary to Scripture, nevertheless he continues a life of rebellion. This rebellion leads to a life of ignorance all the while the fool believes himself to be wise. In their ignorance they deceive themselves. King Solomon wrote:

    “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.” (Proverbs 14:8)

The person who is blessed in life but does not want to surrender his or her life to Jesus must reject there being a God and instead of thanking Him for all He has done in their life, the fool must rely on his or her own intelligence to explain their abundance. This is a very dangerous approach to take with life. Warren Wiersbe explains:

    “Man knew God; this is clear. But man did not want to know God or honor Him as God. Instead of being thankful for all that God had given him, man refused to thank God or give Him the glory He deserves. Man was willing to use God’s gifts, but he was not willing to worship and praise God for His gifts. The result was an empty mind and a darkened heart. Man the worshiper became man the philosopher, but his empty wisdom only revealed his foolishness.”

It is stunning that ingratitude can lead to ignorance, and the fool not realize it. This explains your frustration with that person to whom you are witnessing who refuses to acknowledge God and give all the credit to him or herself. Understand you are dealing with a fool who is empty-minded and black-hearted. Now I do not recommend you say this to that person, but without a doubt you need to pray for their heart and mind to be opened to the aletheia truth to the gospel.

Why? Because John 6:44 says “No man comes to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him” and we must pray to the Father that He do so. Furthermore, the path of ingratitude this person is on leads to eternal destruction. Right now you are dealing with an idolatrous individual. How’s that Bro Dave; they worship nothing. Oh yes they do; they worship themselves. They are their idol.

The problem with this path of ingratitude is it always goes from idolatry to immorality and a life of indulgence.

More on that tomorrow…

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2012 David Jeffers

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