Unfathomable Sin

"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." (Psalm 19: 12)

"Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20: 24)

Two things are here viewed as incomprehensible - sin and the course of life. Certainly a person's sin is far greater than he realizes. No one, without divine grace, can fully understand the magnitude of their sin and evil nature. Men view themselves in a much better light than they are actually. It is not till God open's the understanding's eye that one get's a truer and more realistic view of self. A man under conviction is a man who is being shown the enormity of sin. He gets a true picture of himself.

"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out." (Proverbs 20: 5)

Not only good, but evil counsel, resides in the depraved and hard heart of the sinner. His sins are many and his depravity is a great deep. Only as revelation is given by God will the sinner see the unfathomable depth of his guilt before God and his holy law.

"And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." (I John 3: 19-21)

"If our heart condemn us," or convict us of our sin, the sin that we see in ourselves. But there are sins committed of which sinners are unaware. We confess sins that we know we have committed. Our knowledge of sin is dependent upon our knowledge of the law. But, our knowledge of the law of God is very limited. Those who have the greatest spiritual vision and insight are those who can see the enormity of sin in themselves and in the world. Unconvicted sinners see sin as a trifling thing, and see but little of it in themselves, until God turns on the searchlight in his soul.

"God is greater than our hearts" means that he knows the extent of our sin and depravity more than we know it. We ought therefore to pray as did the Psalmist - "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (139: 23,24)

"Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart." (Psalm 44: 21)

Do you want to see the truth about yourself? Or, will you continue to vainly deceive yourself about yourself? God will show you your true situation if you call upon him to do so. He knows your heart and life far better than you.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3: 5)