Without Christ a Heart Can Become Deceitful and a Tongue Perverse – (Proverbs 17:20)

Daily Bible Study
Here God is revealing to us some of the character traits of the wicked. He is showing us attributes which are common in the hearts of those who rebel against the Lord. Those who hate God, hate the things of God and most of all, hate the people of God. These passages are speaking of those whose hearts are governed by a fallen world and the one the Apostle Paul calls, "the prince of the power of the air." And from these passages, we can see that the heart of the wicked is deceitful and always in rebellion toward God. The thoughts of their heart show a constant plotting and planning of the destruction of those they meet, which in turn is displayed in their speech. Their speech is meant for only destruction and self-gain as it becomes a tool used to carry out their plots against others. Their perverse tongue not only leads them into evil, but entices as many as will follow them to commit evil as well.

A perverse tongue, as spoken of in these passages, is a weapon used by the wicked, who have learned they can use their speech to lay an ambush against the innocent who cross their paths. However, more importantly, these passages show us the progression of a life without God. It shows us what can happen to a life without Christ. A life without Jesus and therefore, without a relationship with the true and living God of Heaven. Because without Jesus, we inevitably fall into a pattern of life which serves to feed our own desires. Sinful behavior and rebellion against God, creates a hunger in those at enmity with God. A hunger for more rebellion, which is then followed up with more sinful actions as they give into the desires, which stem from a fallen sin-nature. A hunger that can never be filled or stopped without Jesus. A hunger which leads to less joy, less happiness and less fulfillment now, as well as eternal destruction later. Dear child of God, there is no amount or measure of sinful behavior that can compare to the abundant life we can have today, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus our Lord.