My 15-month-old grandson recently learned a new word. Up to this point his favorite words have been “bah” (ball) and “nana” (banana) along with “mama” and “dada.” But now a new word has sprung into his vocabulary: “no!” My favorite little person is definitely showing a will of his own. On our walks he does not want to simply follow me along the sidewalk; he would much rather take off in his own direction and explore!

Many modern-day psychologists argue that humans are born with the tendency toward good moral behavior. Our postmodern culture tells us that we are born with a “blank slate” and can be whatever we decide we want to be. But spend any time around a toddler and one might question those theories! 

The Bible tells us clearly that sin is in our nature. Psalm 51:5 says, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” 1 John 1:8 states, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” My husband shared a startling quote with me the other day: We are closer to Hitler than we are to Jesus. 

We do not like to think this way. We hear the opposite being preached today, even in churches. I recently heard a Christian speaker say, “In my lifetime, I’ve broken nine of the ten commandments.” I would have to point out that I have broken ALL the commandments many times over in just the past week! Jesus equates anger and hatred in our hearts as being liable to the same consequences as murder. Guilty!

Why is it so important to know this? Because if we do not understand our depravity, where is our need for a savior? If I am a “pretty good” person, why do I have any need for Jesus? 

The truth is, every day I struggle with the root of sin which caused Adam and Eve’s fall in the garden – pride. Every day I battle with running away from the sidewalk of God’s plan to go explore my own more enticing way. Every day I struggle with saying “No” to the hard things God puts in my life. I want the easy way, the pleasurable way, the comfortable way. 

R.C. Sproul said, “The closer we are to God, the more the slightest sin will cause us deep sorrow.” It is this sorrow that reminds that without God, we would be nowhere. He is our salvation, our strength, our only hope.