Walking with the Wise #35: GOD Hates Hearts That Make Wicked Plans

“There are six things that the LORD hates, 

seven that are an abomination to Him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood, 

a heart that devises wicked plans…” 

—Proverbs 6:16-18

Nobody is perfect. We are all sinners. Every last one of us. The question is, do we continue in sin? Or do we try and fight it? Oh, how many men and women have quit trying to fight against the ravages of sin! And how many in their frustration turn to embrace that which is not true, and in the process become evangelists for evil! There are those who abandon any hope of that which is good, and instead do that which is evil! Rather than using their heart, mind, and soul to show their love for God, they opt to indulge their flesh by concocting devilish schemes to lead others into sin, which is what Solomon means by “a heart that devises wicked plans.”

Such words reveal the despicable and deceitful nature of the heart! As Jeremiah lamented, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”—Jeremiah 17:9. Who can understand what would lead a person to devise wicked schemes against his Creator God and his fellow man? From the beginning of time the state of man’s heart has been at enmity with His Creator. One need only turn to the fourth chapter of Genesis to see the perverse heart of Cain toward his brother Abel. The two men brought their offerings to the Lord, with Abel’s offering looked upon favorably, while Cain’s was not. Once Cain saw how God looked upon Abel’s offering, we read that, “Cain was very angry, and his face fell”—Genesis 4:5. But the Lord said to him,

"Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it"—Genesis 4:6-7.

We must fight our fallen flesh, not give into it. The heart that devises wicked plans no longer fights against sin, but embraces it, going so far as to lead others into it. However, as followers of Christ, we must renounce such evil.

“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God”—2 Corinthians 4:2.

Have you devised wicked plans in the past? Repent before it’s too late! Embrace the Savior who died for you! Let the power of His blood cleanse your conscience and live in the new life His death enabled you to have! Amen.