Genesis 6:5 (NKJV)

‘Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.’

The problem with Mankind is Man. You cannot tame, control or whitewash Man. Man is fundamentally evil and the movements of his inner being only naturally tend towards rebellion and the production of evil. That’s the death we inherited from the Fall. Look at the way God described Man: ‘EVERY intent of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY evil CONTINUALLY’. What a way to summarize the human being. Note that it’s not his action that was evil continually but his thoughts and once the thoughts (or inner man) are evil, the only product from such a man is evil.

Thank God for Jesus who redeems us from the nature of rebellion and grants us a new heavenly nature that produces righteousness. If not for this atoning transforming work, we will all still fall within the ranks of those whose thoughts are ONLY CONTINUALLY EVIL.

‘Lord, I celebrate the mercy that delivered and still delivers me from the continual thoughts of evil. I thank you for the work on the cross. Now, teach me how to carry that cross daily that I may thereby, always crucify daily, the old nature that seeks to live out the rebellious life. And work through me to present this same cross to our rebellious generation. In your name, I pray. Amen.’