Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

The Nature of Our Depravity

By Guest Blogger May 27, 2007 Devotion

I listened to a John Piper message from the ReFocus Conference (download conference messages here.)

The thrust of the message, “The Nature of Our Depravity” was not that we are all as bad as we can possibly be – it is obvious that most people, saved or not, are not as evil as evil can get.

The depth of our depravity is that it seeps into every aspect of our lives – there is no part of who we are as human being that is not touched by this depravity.

Piper tells us that the nature of this depravity is not necessarily an impulse to “do evil” at every chance that we have. No.

The nature of our depravity is that, without the influence of Christ in our lives, we tend to prefer things other than God. Even good things – the gifts of God – can be touched by this depravity if we prefer them, not God.

The very first question on the Westminster Shorter Catechism is

What is the chief end of man?

Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. (Scripture references are at the end of this post)

The question for us is – how does this happen? God has given us life – do we enjoy our life, or do we look at our life and see how it allows us to enjoy God?

This leads to much soul-searching – it’s easy for a Christian to prefer God over the evil things in this world. It’s not so easy to look at the very, very good things that God has given us and prefer – truly prefer God over these things. Our children, our marriages, our jobs, even our church.

When my relationship with God is put on a back burner because my place in the choir, in Sunday School class, in whatever board I’m on – that’s the nature of my depravity – that even the good things that I do are touched by a preference for the things of this earth.

Realizing the depth of this depravity – how does this work? If even the good things are touched by this depth of being a fallen human being – what next?

Grace. We never, as long as we walk on this earth, stop needing grace!

It is this grace – so amazing, so comforting, so all-encompassing – that saves us. I examine myself – my self. Is “self” getting in the way of my relationship with God? Obviously, the answer is yes – it’s the nature of fallen humanity? But grace steps in.

In Mark 9:24, the man who came to Jesus believed, and yet there was this fallen humanity in the way.

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!“

This is grace; it gives us faith, it supports and grows that faith!

Grace covers us when our faith and our preference for God falters.  This is my hope and peace.

God created the heavens and the earth; humans sinned, bringing sin into our lives.  Christ came and died to cover the sins of those who believe.

My focus must be on God – my preference must be for God.  Not the things of God, but God.  Enjoy His gifts – allow them to point to Him and enjoy Him forever.

My prayer is that we see all good gifts as coming from God – allowing us to enjoy Him.

[a]. Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; I Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11
[b]. Ps. 16:5-11; 144:15; Isa. 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil. 4:4; Rev. 21:3-4

6 thoughts on “The Nature of Our Depravity”

  3. eph2810

    Very powerful post, Ellen. I totally agree, sometimes our service, anywhere, can get in the way to worship Him and put Him first.

    Be blessed today and always.