The heart is the wellspring of life. It directs thought, speech, and actions. If it corrupt, so is every thought, word and action.
I want to be clear here. This doesn't mean every thought, word or action is wrong or evil. But it does mean that every thought, word, and action flows from an evil source.
I also want to be clear that evil as defined by God doesn't mean wicked or dastardly, though these are found in man and are included in the spectrum of evil. What makes that which flows from the heart evil is that it has no connection to God as its source.
I totally agree with the point you are making! The entire message of the Bible is the story of fallen man and the grace and mercy that God provides in abundance to those of His choosing!
It seems clear that since the fall, man lost the
ability to love and obey the very God who created all things, including himself. It also seems clear to me that man cannot regain this
ability in his own strength. God must intervene to mend the creation that He himself proclaimed was VERY GOOD. But in doing this, we must remember that God owes nothing at all to man (Adam). He would be totally just in leaving all men in their fallen state. However, in His love and undeserved mercy, He chose a people for himself. A people to be His!
Was the choice based on the fact that they were somehow better than all others? Were they stronger? Were they in anyway more deserving? The answer is NO! This was God's soveriegn choice!
As sinful men we wrongly proclaim – “this is not fair, God must treat all men the same”. But this is incorrect thinking. If we follow scripture we see that it teaches:
(1)Who are you, O man, to talk back to God? (Rom. 9:20), and with the words of our Savior, (2)H
ave I no right to do what I want with my own? (Matt. 20:15). And the apostle proclaims: (3)
Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond tracing out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen (Rom. 11:33-36).
So, to save
His people, He gave us His very own Son – who died and rose again for the forgiveness of our sins. He also sends out proclaimers of this very joyful message
to the people he wishes and at the time he wishes. By this ministry people are called to repentance and faith in Christ crucified.
For how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone preaching? And how shall they preach unless they have been sent? (Rom. 10:14-15).
The Spirit must do a work within us which enables us to hear and believe. This, I believe, includes giving us a new heart. This action, to some degree, restores our lost
ability to love and obey God!
The love of God and His mercy that is provided for His people is a mystery that we will never fully understand in this lifetime, but will fully understand once we are with Him!