Rebellion has been at the heart of sin and evil ever since its inception beginning with Satan who rose up against God and was cast down from his position of leadership in the heavenlies (Isaiah 14:12-14); he then incited man, God’s chief creation on earth, to rebel resulting in death and expulsion from the garden in Genesis 3. Rebellion against God and His ways has continued to be at the root of sin ever since, leaving God with no alternative but the destruction of the rebellious. The wise writer of Proverbs knew this when he wrote in 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” We are given a graphic illustration of this in Numbers 16 when four men not satisfied with their God-given position rose up against God’s appointed leadership; soon their evil spreads to two hundred-fifty other leaders, and obviously the whole congregation soon sympathize with them. Then God visually and vividly demonstrates His wrath against sin and rebellion (evil), and the end of those who follow its ways! But wrath and destruction are never God’s choice; rather because of His love He made a way of Redemption by Atonement, which we see demonstrated in the later part of Numbers 16. He knows “The heart is deceitful…And desperately wicked” Jeremiah 17:9. That is why He has provided to “give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you…” Ezekiel 36:26-29. A provision He has made for all “those who come to God through Him” Hebrews 7:25, for He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9. God says, “…I have set before you life and death…choose life…” Deuteronomy 30:19, (cf. Jeremiah 21:8). The choice is yours, either you are surrendering fully to God or you are rebelling against Him – there is no neutral ground. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23. (Also see Psalm 51:10 & 2 Corinthians 5:17).
A New Heart
-By Rose Hill
The Lord created a new thing of fright,
It was worse than a vision of the night.
The ground opened and split apart,
And swallowed the men who were evil at heart.
God wants to create in man a new heart,
He doesn’t want His creation to fall apart.
He said He would make everything new,
And that includes both me and you.
So we must all of our sin forsake,
And yield to our maker who is very great.