Is The Greatest Sin, Giving Up On The Lord?

And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.” Jeremiah 18:12

They said, "evil heart", just like that, really? According to the word of our Lord, the Israelites responded to the illustration of the Potter and His clay in that way. They gave up and went their own evil way. 

The potter and clay story is used in many songs, stories, and sermons. If you need to review it sometime, the story comes from our Lord in Jeremiah 18. Their response though, made me wonder if giving up on the Lord and going your own evil way is not that greatest of sins that Jesus stated in His ministry. Is this that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, that we are to avoid at all costs? It may well be, for this is that turning away that condemns the unbeliever who is not ignorant but fully aware of his or her decision. This is that sin of ours that our Lord shouted from the cross, "Why have You forsaken me?" Note that our Lord did not go the evil way of the unbelievers! 

They are correct in one important way in our verse for today; it is hopeless for us. Jesus took this up many years later in telling the disciples that with God all things are possible. Indeed the better response to the commandment of the Lord is to depend on His ability. That is where we get responsibility from - it is our response to His ability! (I didn't make that up; I heard it years ago from Pastor Adrian Rogers.)

Yes, give up on yourself, and respond with love and praise to His ability to save and sanctify us!

Bucky