Reformation is the object we pretend to aim at, but we are perpetually mistaking the subject of it; it is ourselves. It is dreadful (but perhaps not uncommon) self-deceit to present ourselves before God with a lie in our mouths, and hypocrisy in our heart, or a secret unwillingness to be and to do as we pray. (Thomas Adam, Private Thoughts on Religion)
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
If what has been said in the previous BLOGS on this issue is true, it leaves man with a devastating view of himself and of the sin of his heart and abuse of God. If indeed by self-deceit we are refusing to be the subjects of reformation, then we are trying to present ourselves to God with a lie in our mouths and hypocrisy in our hearts. If we are refusing to be subjects of reformation and that by reforming in accordance with our own good pleasure and leaving what we want, then our prayers for holiness and for a whole heart are lies and show that we are willing to pray for things that we are unwilling to be and do.
A person can pray to know God, but if a person is not willing to repent of all known sin that person does not truly want to know God from a pure heart and a whole heart. So when that person goes to present him or herself before God as if that person wanted to seek God, that person has a lie in the mouth and hypocrisy in the heart. What does God think about those who come to Him and pray earnestly (in appearance) for things that they are unwilling to be or to do? If we pray for the glory of Christ to shine through us, then we must be willing to be shown our sin and to repent of that sin in order for that glory to shine through us.
The seriousness of this should be evident with some reflection. We are told that we will find God if we seek Him with all of our hearts, which means that He will not be found by hearts that are full of sin and a sin that comes from half-heartedness and self-deception. God hates hypocrisy and we must know that He is not pleased with hearts full of wickedness that people simply don’t want to repent of and as such are hypocrites. What would we think of a child pleading with his parents for favor based on a good behavior that the child was living in direct contradiction too? What does it mean to go to God with our hearts fully exposed to Him and then try to hide things from Him?
We should be aware of the fact of how awful it is to go to God and pray for things that we are simply unwilling to be and do. While we may not consciously be aware of it at the moment, that does not do away with our guilt. The things that we have deceived ourselves about are things that are still sin.
Jeremiah 29:12 ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
As long as we see reformation as having to do with others and not ourselves, we will be self-deceived. As long as we see reformation as being comfortable and easy, we will be self-deceived. As long as we think that God will be satisfied and things are well with our souls without a whole heart and without a continual pursuit of reformation, we will be self-deceived. A heart that truly seeks the living God is a heart that has repented and wants to be shown the sin that remains in its own heart so it may repent of it too. A heart that is not set on casting out all idols is satisfied to be full of self and pride rather than to be full of Christ. A heart that is not set on having the Spirit work in it to reveal hidden idols and sin is a heart that is comfortable with sin and comfortable without Christ or more of Christ. This is what a refusal to be one that is truly seeking reformation of itself is and it is what happens when people are comfortable rather than seeking reformation/sanctification/life of Christ in the soul. It is a simple act of choosing to have sin over Christ.
God Loves... Himself 
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