Human Mind: The Root of All Problems
In the Old Testament (Hebrew), the term "lev" (heart/mind) appears approximately 200 times, while "guf" (body) appears around 120 times.
In the New Testament (Greek), the term "nous" (mind) is mentioned about 350 times, "soma" (body) is mentioned around 130 times, and "pneuma" (spirit) is mentioned approximately 500 times.
Therefore, the term "mind" appears 550 times, "spirit" appears 500 times, and "body" appears 250 times throughout the entire Bible.
The reason why the term "mind" appears most frequently is because it is the source of the majority of problems. Although the term "spirit" appears 500 times, people do not pay much attention to it. Instead, they give more importance and priority to the body, which is mentioned only 250 times, and the mind, which is mentioned 550 times.
All problems arise from the heart
Human problems are not caused by the spirit or the body. Nearly all human problems arise from the heart (mind). The scriptures say, "The heart is more deceitful than anything else and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). The heart is prone to deception and is beyond remedy.
The heart is continually corrupt
The Bible says, "Every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5). This means that all human intentions and desires are constantly corrupt. The phrase "all the time" implies that there is no moment free from corruption. Why is this so? The persistent corruption exists due to humans' rejection of God's will. From a governmental perspective, the intentions of rebels are constantly evil; they never perform any good deeds. Similarly, in God's view, a heart that refuses to submit to His rule remains continually corrupt. The human heart struggles to accept this truth.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks
Jesus said, " You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Matthew 12:34-35) Jesus said that people cannot speak good things because their hearts are evil. Are you able to embrace this principle?
What makes a person defiled
Jesus said, "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them." (Matthew 15:18-20) What makes a person defiled is not something that comes from outside, but rather the content of their heart.
The heart is stubborn
The Bible says, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Psalm 95:8, Hebrews 3:7-8). How does a heart become hardened? When someone listens to words but only follows their own desires, that is indicative of a hardened heart. Certain individuals speak confidently and boldly while still possessing a hardened heart. Others reveal the hardness of their hearts through silence and non-response. Have you ever contemplated your own degree of hardness in your heart? And have you ever reflected on how you yourself may be having a hardened heart?
Sins that begin in the Heart
Conflicts and quarrels with people are caused by the heart. The Scripture says, "because of pride we have argument." (Proverbs 13:10) Why do people quarrel between husband and wife, parents and children, employer and employee, neighbors, friends, travelers, or those nearby? It is because their hearts are not satisfied. Why do loving couples end up hating each other and eventually divorcing? Because of the heart. Why do we sue others? Because our hearts are dissatisfied and cannot bear it. Why do people commit murder? Because the heart commands them to. Why do people become greedy? We come into this world with nothing, and when we leave, we can take nothing with us. Therefore, we should live simply with whatever we have for eating and wearing, (1 Timothy 6:6-8) but because we refuse to accept that truth, we are greedy. Why do people become arrogant and rebellious? Pride is the root of destruction; rebellion stems from contempt. (Proverbs 16:18) It's because they don't read or consider these scriptures, due to the heart that doesn't engage in thinking.
What is the source of deception? It comes from the heart. "I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3) Paul warned the Corinthian believers about this. Having deceitful thoughts is a habit of the devil, and people's hearts are prone to such temptations.
Pride also comes from the heart. Paul warned the Corinthians: "Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?" (1 Corinthians 5:6)
The weaknesses of the human heart are too numerous. Paul wrote, "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy" (Romans 1:29-31)
I will change my heart
When a person becomes aware that his heart is not good, he says that he will change his heart. However, the one who intends to change his heart is the very heart itself. Just as a boxer does not want to be defeated by himself, the heart also does not wish to change itself. Although it may temporarily change for various reasons such as fear or shame, it always remains as it was originally. Paul said: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me." (Romans 7:15-17) This sin that dwells within us is our heart itself. Further on, he said, "but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" (Romans 7:23-24) He expressed his helplessness in this manner. Just as Paul needed a savior, so do you.
A new heart awaits
Regardless of how proficient a surgeon may be, he cannot operate on himself. He requires another skilled surgeon to carry out the procedure. The patient does not need to understand medicine; he merely needs to agree with the adept surgeon and consent to his body for surgery. In a similar manner, God promises those individuals whose hearts are imperfect: "I will give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them. I will remove their stony heart and give them a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26). Everyone possesses a stony heart. Stone is tough, similar to the human heart's resilience. There are people who exhibit stubbornness like stone, while others display gentleness and compassion in their hearts. No matter how one's heart is in terms of hardness or softness, to live according to one's desires, he must possess a stony heart. However, genuine worship of God cannot be achieved with a stony heart. How unyielding and resolute are you? God offers the opportunity to remove that hardened heart and replace it with a heart of flesh. Do you wish to accept the heart of flesh bestowed by God? If so, come to God.
How will God gives a new heart?
God placed the ungodly human into Christ and put him to death with Christ. Paul wrote, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24) Through Christ's crucifixion on the cross, many things were accomplished. One of these was that it killed the hard heart of man so that when He rose again, God gave him a new heart. Thus, man can receive a new heart. How can one know if he has received a new heart? The old heart is stubborn and says, "I know my own mind." But someone who receives a new heart becomes gentle and pliable, able to be taught, reproved, and endure. He will desire to hear God's Word, taste its sweetness, and begin changing his thoughts and actions.
Change is possible
The Scripture says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Deuteronomy 32:15). That is true; man cannot make a crooked heart straight. However, the Lord asked, "Is My word not like fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock?" (Jeremiah 23:29). When you heat the bent iron with fire and strike it with a hammer, it can be made straight. Likewise, when you apply the fiery Word of God to the crooked heart and strike it with the hammer of the Word of God, it will become straight. A patient may not be able to heal himself, but he needs to go to the doctor for treatment. Similarly, though everyone cannot make their own hearts upright by themselves, they need to approach God who can do it for them. Therefore, the Scripture says, "Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 3:8). This is what Hebrews refers to; therefore, the Holy Spirit said, "Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, for when your fathers tested Me in the wilderness for forty years, though they saw My works, they tested Me, and they did not believe." (Hebrews 3:7-9)
What comes next
Iron can only be shaped when it is hot. When it cools down, it becomes hard and cannot be shaped anymore. At that time, you have to put it back into the fire until it turns red again, then shape it once more. Similarly, although we receive a new heart, gradually it becomes hardened again. Then we need to be reshaped by the Word of God, which is like fire. If we do not read the Word of God, pray, or obey what God commands us, our hearts will become hardened again. Therefore, we must constantly read and study the Word of God, pray, and always practice acts of kindness towards others. May the Lord grant understanding to everyone.
