An Evil Heart

When evening came, He arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining and eating Jesus said, "I assure you: one of you will betray Me- one who is eating with Me!"

They began to be distressed and to say to Him one by one, "Surely not I?"

He said to them, "It is one of the Twelve- the one who is dipping bread with Me in the bowl. For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but wow to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." Mark 14:17-20

How do we come to a place where we will betray? Take a bribe? Have an affair? Become a paedophile? We have stayed too long where we should have not been.

Imagine Judas being courted by the Scribes and Pharisees, imagine them pandering to his lust for money and perhaps his disappointment in Jesus not being who he expected Him to be. Wrong desires, wrong thinking provide a fertile ground for the enemy of our souls.

When deception has taken root we are walking away from the light and are deaf to truth, our heart has been captured by evil.

In the Australian media we are watching politicians fall like flies as it is discovered they have taken bribes, illicit and illegal party funds from men who seek favour. Some of these politicians knew they were doing wrong but did not know how to say "No!"

In many countries this is common practice, but not here. Corruption is dealt with by the courts.

I smile at the reporters, some of who are are sanctimonious, politicians of other parties likewise. There but for the grace of God go us all.

Our cultures deem some sin worse than others. Yet it is the opinion of God that counts. Jesus Himself said it was better that Judas was never born. These are are strong words. Judas is in a lost eternity.

It is better to live in truth with a humble heart tht to grasp at power,

fame and riches and sink beneath the fetid oil of evil, to be forever swallowed in its blackness, reeking of it's stench.

Praise God for His grace! Amen!