God's Attributes Reflected in UsSample

Humans are not good

“… the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth.” (Genesis 8:21)

When the Lord God created man, he was “very good.” But that didn't last long. God's adversary tempted the first humans to rebel against their Creator. That choice permanently and radically changed their hearts. Several generations later, we read the sad outcome: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

In response to this wickedness, God brought a huge flood of water upon the earth that swallowed up all the people and animals - except a small number who survived the flood in a wooden ark. One would hope that with that, the wickedness of the earth was gone. But no. Immediately after the flood, God said, “The intention of man's heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). A similar conclusion is drawn by Psalm 14. “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. […] There is none who does good, not even one.”

What depressing words... Do you recognize this observation? How do you view those around you (and yourself!) on a scale of good or bad?