Legislation Of The Heart, 11/14

Written codes of law are useless because we cannot legislate the hearts of men. Whether there are laws or not people will ultimately do the wickedness that is in their hearts. If we understand some simple biblical principles in sequence then we can solve the mystery to this riddle:

1- the heart is desperately wicked:

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

2- the tongue is led by the heart:

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

3- actions are led by the tongue:

James 3:4-6New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

So if actions are steered by the rudder of the tongue and the tongue is steered by the heart, then the only way to stop wicked actions is to get the wickedness out of the heart. Only the cross and the blood of Jesus and the yoke-destroying power of the Holy Spirit can do that. This is why only the gospel and the leading of the spirit can improve societal things. The laws of man are totally helpless to do so because they can not change the hearts of men.

-Steve Pursell, 11/14