Monday, December 7

The heart is more treacherous than anything else.Jer. 17:9.

The spirit of a sound mind does not mean just going by what we or others think or feel is reasonable or expedient. Our imperfect mind and heart can be like a watch that is going either too fast or too slow. Being guided by it could bring us serious trouble. We need to calibrate our mind and heart by God’s reliable standards. With good reason, the Bible admonishes us: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.” Note the expression “do not lean upon your own understanding.” It is followed by “take notice of

[Jehovah].” He is the One with a truly sound mind. Thus, it follows that whenever we are faced with a decision, we need to turn to the Bible to see what God’s view is. Then we should base our decision on it. That is using the spirit of a sound mind.

COMMENTARY

It is important to take note of the context of the 17th chapter of Jeremiah, from where the day’s verse was taken. Jehovah had expressed his determination to punish Judah for the reason that their sin was inscribed with a diamond point stylus on the tablet of their heart. In other words, the nation and its leaders were hard set in their course and no amount of admonition from God would alter that fact.

But in his fairness, God was not going to simply wipe everyone out. Although collectively, the nation had ignited the fire of Jehovah’s indignation, God was going to judge each person individually. That is where the day’s verse is set: “The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it? I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, examining the innermost thoughts, to give to each one according to his ways, according to the fruitage of his works.”

The admonition is most applicable to Jehovah’s Witnesses at this particular time. The leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses has taken a course that is sure to ignite the fire of Jehovah’s rage. But where does that leave us as individuals?

For many, the manifold errors of the Watchtower are just the thing they seek — a pretext to excuse themselves from the faith altogether. For them, their faith is predicated upon the supposed integrity of the men who hold positions in the organization. In their minds, God could not possibly have any connection with an organization if the leaders of it prove false in any way. 

In the fourth Psalm David derides those who keep seeking to find a lie. And that seems to be the motive of a growing number of Jehovah’s Witnesses who seem pleased to have found what they think is a legitimate reason for escaping what they now claim is a destructive cult. But shouldn’t our heart’s motivation be to seek the truth instead of a lie? What do you have if you find the lie you seek?

Truly, the heart is desperate and treacherous.

In truth, the apostasy developing within the leading men of the organization imposes a test upon all. God wants to know what is in your heart. What is the end of the matter? Jeremiah goes on to state: “All those who abandon you will be put to shame. Those apostatizing from you will be written in the dust, because they have abandoned Jehovah, the source of living water.”