This sense of self-righteousness is deeply ingrained within human nature, just as their love of self is inherent. It is rooted in the corrupt soil of the human heart, which constantly seeks to elevate itself and justify its own actions. Men instinctively desire to take credit for their goodness, often living within a fragile and unstable system of checks and balances that ultimately feeds their anger and resentment against God's grace. They wrap themselves in a false veneer of righteousness, quick to defend their deeds before God and equally swift to condemn others. Their words become weapons—tongues capable of murder, wounding, and division. They scorn divine mercy, loving their sinful selves too much to accept God's goodness and forgiveness. Their anger and wrath stem from a denial of their need for divine grace; they insist on their own righteousness, even though the truth is clear: no one is truly good—no, not one. Deep within their hearts, there lies a thorn—a persistent pain that pricks their pride and schemes, fueling their fury and transforming their wounds into scars. These scars create new defenses—paths of self-preservation—that harden their hearts further, manifesting in sharp words that pierce and freeze their souls into coldness. Ultimately, this leads to their downfall and ruin. Remember this: in His justice, God turns the plans and schemes of man—those thoughts unaccompanied by grace—back upon themselves, bringing about their destruction. In their natural state, all mankind dwells in misery—longing to break free from their hardness and alienation from God, yet driven by their own wicked schemes toward eternal ruin, into the fires of hell. Truly, this is the tragic paradox of human existence: our greatest efforts to find fulfillment often lead us deeper into despair. Every philosophy, every idea conceived by man carries a dual nature; each human thought has the potential to sow chaos and disorder in the world. Only God fully perceives the depths of the human mind, knowing that all such thoughts are ultimately futile and empty. It is divine activity—moving through the realm of human ideas—that stirs the hearts of men, even kings, much like the wind moves streams and rivers. Every person crafts their own universe through the ideas they generate from their natural, fallen way of thinking. From the depths of the heart, all manner of evil flows; desires rooted in the innermost parts shape the core of human nature. These inward passions eventually find outward expression in words, for God declares that action begins with the tongue—words that precede and shape deeds. Therefore, the destructive power men wield is not merely in physical weapons like steel, but in the tongue—an instrument capable of destruction, slander, and division. Men become architects of evil because their thoughts stray from the truth, wandering into darkness and deception.  But ultimately, salvation rests solely in divine revelation. These profound truths must confront and subdue the natural inclinations of mankind, transforming them through love and grace. The Bible, as God's revealed word, functions as a divine microscope, exposing the darkness within the human mind and revealing the schemes men devise against themselves. The problem is not only that men are corrupt, but that they are also religious—claiming righteousness before God while secretly plotting against His authority. They position themselves between the divine and human realms, acting according to their own schemes and designs, often pretending to serve God while secretly opposing His will.