"In Me Dwelleth No Good
Thing!"
Romans 7:18
Opening my heart's door, as best I can,
entering into its most secret chambers, I see the most foul, abominable and
frightful things imaginable. In my sinful heart of flesh I see every evil thing
that man has ever done, or imagined against God and his fellow man. I make no
exceptions (Matt.
Before God saved me I thought things would
be different, if ever God was pleased to save me. I knew my sins would not be
eradicated. But I did think they would at least be fewer, weaker and less
troublesome. But things are not as I dreamed! I was shocked to wake up one day
and realize that I am still just as sinful as ever by nature. My flesh is still
flesh. And it always will be. Until this body of flesh dies, my sin will never
die, or even diminish! The outward deeds are not so bad
as they once were. But the inward corruptions are worse, far worse.
I am trying to be honest with you, because
I want you to be honest with yourself and with God. Before God saved you, did
you ever imagine that a saved person could be so vile as you are?I never
thought a saved man could love Christ so little as I do and love the world so
much,trust God so little and fret so much, have such a cold heart of
indifference to the things of God and such a lively spirit to the things of the
world, have such a hard time praying and reading God's word, and be so
impatient, murmuring and resentful of God's provi- dence. In myself I honestly
see nothing good,righteous, or holy. I pray. But my
prayers are full of selfish desires. I read God's word. But my mind runs to
every evil thing.I love Christ. But my love for him is shame- ful.I trust my
God.But my faith is mixed with unbelief.
This is my confession: I am a sinner,nothing else. My only hope is God's free grace in Christ.
My only grounds of acceptance with God is the
righteousness and shed blood of Christ, the sinner's Substitute.
Don Fortner