Harry Martinez, a resident of Albany, is a retired minister who served a nondenominational congregation in Florida. His weekly column appears in several South Georgia newspapers.

Over the centuries, zillions of dollars and resources have been directed toward changing the thinking of man from that which is wrong to what is right. If criminal activity were attributed to hunger and poverty, social programs were implemented to resolve those issues. Education was seen as a means to better humanity, reform one’s thinking, and thus eliminate the negative urges and tendencies of man’s human nature. While such well-meaning efforts have offered some relief from adverse external circumstances, wrongful acts continue to increase.

Scripture reveals that man is born with a fallen nature which is the basis for his thoughts and actions. The picture it presents is not pleasant nor appealing to the natural man … “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Prov 23:7 NASB). Jeremiah wrote … “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it” (Jer 17:9 NASB)? The prophet was not speaking of the cardiac pump but of the mentality of the soul. The psalmist stated … “In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD. The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, “There is no God” (Ps 10:2-4 NASB). Jesus said … “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23 NASB).

More than good intentions are needed to transform that which motivates one’s thoughts and actions. A new way of thinking is essential, one that is compatible with divine thought. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa 55:7-9 NASB). Only God can provide a new way of thinking.

Man through self-effort cannot forsake his sinful ways and have a relationship with God. The obstacle is his inner nature not external circumstances. The Apostle Paul declared that both immoral and moral individuals fall short of God’s standard … “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23 NASB). Therefore, one must conclude that there is no human solution to man’s fallen spiritual condition. Only God can remedy that which is humanly impossible to accomplish.

Jesus addressed that very issue with a very religious moral man. “Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:1-3 NASB). Neither reformation or increased religious activity were proposed, but instead, a new birth. Jesus gave Nicodemus the good news … “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18 NIV).