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For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23)

God is righteous, perfect, and infinitely holy. That’s His standard. It is sometimes called “glory” in the New Testament. Let me paraphrase Romans 3:23:

For all have sinned [that’s our condition] and fall short of the perfection, holiness, righteousness, and glory [that’s His standard] of God.

From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)

I ask you, how could a man as godly as David fall as far as he did with Bathsheba? How could he be responsible for murdering a man on the battlefield? How could he live the life of a hypocrite for almost a year? How could David do that? He’s our hero! He’s that faithful shepherd! He’s the giant killer!

To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. (Proverbs 29:15)

It’s helpful to remember that the deadliest killer of humanity is not heart disease or cancer…it’s depravity. Every one of us has it. Every one of us suffers from the consequences of it. And to make matters even worse, we pass it on to each new generation.

One of the most sweeping, broad-brush statements in all of Scripture on the depravity of humanity is found in Genesis:

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. (Genesis 3:6)

The original story of innocence and beauty becomes a study in selfishness and tragedy beyond the warning. Genesis 3 is familiar to all Bible students—especially as it relates to the temptation in the Garden.

For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)

Webster says depraved means, “marked by corruption or evil, perverted, crooked.” It’s important that you understand this is an internal disease; you can’t detect it from the outside. Most folks don’t “look” depraved. Most of us do a masterful job of covering up. But never doubt that underneath, deep down inside, there is this disease that eats away at us and pollutes our thoughts and our words (intellect), our relationships (emotions), and our actions (will).

And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. (John 16:8–11)

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (John 7:37–38)

And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

Several years ago my wife and I visited a local university campus during their art festival. We had the privilege of slipping behind the curtain and watching a potter at work. She was quite skilled in the art—a pleasure to watch. She was finishing the top part of a vase. As the wheel was spinning, her fingers and thumbs were smoothing, shaping, pulling, pushing. She never looked up at those who were watching her.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)

God is committed to the task of conforming you and me to the image of His Son. Not physically—He’s not making us look like Jesus looked physically—but inwardly: in character, in patience, in gentleness, in goodness, in grace, in truth, in discipline. He’s committed to conforming our lives to the inner character of His Son.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. (Luke 8:22–23)