Some time ago a nationally known brain surgeon operated on a convict to curb his desire to steal.
"As far as I am concerned, the operation was a failure," said the patient after he had been picked up by the police as he tried to pawn a stolen watch.
When the officers went to his house they found all sorts of items that had been stolen from various places. Much to the disappointment of the patient's lawyer, who had arranged for the operation, the attempt to remedy the trouble by surgery of the brain was a complete failure. Little wonder, indeed, for the diagnosis was absolutely wrong!
In Mark 7:21-2321For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:21‑23), the Lord Jesus Christ says, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
From this it is clearly seen that theft is produced by the heart (synonym for the soul) of man. The cause is not in the head but in the heart; it is not that which is physical but that which is spiritual.
The heart is the fountain of every evil thing. Jeremiah the prophet declares: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jer. 17:99The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). It is SIN that has made it so, and the Great Physician who knows man's heart was apparently not consulted before the attempt was made to remedy the condition without getting at the cause.
Many are the efforts being made today to correct the outward condition of the evil that abounds on every hand by physical, therapeutical, psychological and philanthropical means. All these efforts ignore the basic cause and can result in nothing but failure and disappointment.
When the truth of God's diagnosis of man's sinful condition and absolute ruin is refused or ignored, there can be no other end than death and judgment. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12).
Because of sin, man is helpless to do one thing to remedy his condition. So far as human efforts are concerned, his case is hopeless. Is there no hope? Is there no remedy?
Yes, thank God, there is! The very One against whom man has sinned has provided a remedy. An operation was needed, truly, but it was an operation of divine judgment against sin. The blessed Lord Jesus came to be made sin for us, and underwent on Calvary the knife of God's righteous wrath against sin, as the Substitute for sinful men. He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).