Day 34: Heart's Deception

Jer 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (NET)

Eph 4:17: So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. (NET)

Jeremiah recorded God's message in Hebrew. The Hebrews used one word to describe the source of both intellect and the emotions (lev, heart). That same word is also used to refer to the innermost part of something. They had a different word (nepes) most commonly translated as soul. English may be closer to Greek, in which Paul's letters are recorded. The Greeks used a similar source for mental constructs that we do (the mind). They considered the heart to be the residence of what we might call the soul. But, they believed the bowels were the source of emotion whereas we generally say emotions come from the heart. Because of these linguistic and cultural differences, we are unlikely to get the message of these verses with a casual read.

Still, one thing Paul makes clear is the difference between the core of who you are and your understanding/thinking. Jeremiah affirms that emotions and reasoning should not be taken at face value because they may not be consistent with one's true self.

The nonbeliever in Eph 4:17-18 has no choice. His stubborn heart results in futile thinking and continued separation from God. A hard heart yields perpetual ignorance and alienation from the Truth. Without Truth, one is hopeless to reason past a self-destructive lifestyle. Nonbelievers are trapped in the illusion put forth by Satan that joy, peace, and fulfillment can be found in a disobedient life apart from God.

On “autopilot,” a believer may continue their subscription to the same illusion. But, we were made for greater things. Our new nature and our new purpose is incompatible with a lifestyle of dead behaviors resulting from futile thinking (Col 3:5-10).

Col 2:23: Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body—a wisdom with no true value—they in reality result in fleshly indulgence. (NET)

Col 3:1: Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (NET)

Read Col 3:8-16. Contrast the results of a proper perspective and a perspective of futile thinking.

What illusions in your life are keeping you from pursuing your purpose (as identified in Day 32)?

The highly specialized nature of our visual cortex allows us to recognize objects and patterns unconsciously...and quite quickly. Though efficient, the unconscious nature of this process makes us susceptible to optical illusions. When our visual cortex is fooled intentionally by an artist or illusionist, it can be an entertaining experience. However, when we are not aware of an illusion, it can be a dangerous situation. In the same way, being lackadaisical about our “life perspective” can result in an unexpected ending.

Faithful with Little