Eve deceived: The heart of the matter, is the heart

Believers who think they can't be deceived, already are! I mean why would the Bible tell us not to be deceived if it were not possible (Galatians 6:7)? Actually, deception and unbelief are connected, and are both matters of the heart. Hebrews 3:12, 13 reads “Make sure that you do not have an evil unbelieving heart, so that you will not be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” It startled me to learn that God regards unbelief as evil. But Eve's unbelieving heart (her mind and emotions) lead her into deception and disobedience (Genesis 3:1-6, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:3). Sin was thus introduced sin into humanity, and escalated exponentially from there (Genesis 4ff). “Sin’s deceitfulness” is about rationalization. I mean if we want to do something, we'll find a thousand reasons to do it. It's called self deception. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt!

And it is a heart matter! Jesus put is this way, evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander, all these originate in the heart (Matthew 15:19). Brian researcher Dr. Caroline Leaf, has shown that every thought has an emotion attached to it, and that persistent or obsessive thoughts carve out neural pathways in the brain. Positively neural pathways facilitate learning skills, such as reading, or playing a musical instrument. Negatively they form, and reinforce, addictions. Our thought life matters, for it is self evidently true that thoughts lead to actions, actions lead to habits, habits form character, and character reaps destiny. And the reason Jesus tells us that looking at a woman lustfully is the same as committing adultery (Matthew 5:28), is because adultery starts in the heart. Who would have known the Bible understood all these things thousands of years ago?

But who hasn't had lustful thoughts? Well this is where the disciplines of the normal Christian life come in. The normal Christian life is that which was lived by the first disciples who were willing to die for their faith, but I digress! Our thought life matters, and we need to deal radically with it, to cut these negative thoughts off at the source, nip them in the bud. In fact we are commanded to guard our hearts diligently, and as indicated above, it is because it is the place from which issues of life flow (Proverbs 4:23). Recognizing the problem, Paul talks about crucifying the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). We will not be spiritually mature if we do not learn to do this. It is a process, at least it is for me, and it involves setting our minds and hearts on the things above (Colossians 3:2).  It involves, with the help of the Spirt, putting to death the misdeeds of the body (Romans 8:13). And it involves bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). If all this seems too much, consider that if He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all!

 Father, Your Word is living and powerful, and sharper than any double edged sword. It discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). So let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord (Psalm 19:14). Please  help us to hide Your Word in our hearts, so that we might not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). Truly the heart of the matter is the heart. With Your help Lord, we commit to keep it with all diligence, in Jesus Name Amen