Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5

Four watercolors held in the United States Army of Military History were created by a soldier-artist of the early twentieth century: Adolf Hitler, a man synonymous with evil and brutality. Before becoming a dictator, Hitler made his living selling his own paintings. Who would have expected a man of such cruelty and wickedness could also have this softer front, then who is to say that side possibly isn’t in all of us?

Everyone has a dark-side starting at birth. Just listen to a toddler. One of his first words of rebellion is “No!” Sin is not merely something we say and do, it is our nature. Because of Adam’s disobedience, no part in all humanity is untouched by original sin, just as an oil spill would pollute an entire river. Consequently, we are all born objects of God’s wrath (Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-5). No matter how good or moral a person may be, they are still spiritually dead without saving faith. After all, how can a dead man raise himself? Who can make the clean out of the unclean (Job 14:4)? Who can remove the leopards spots (Jeremiah 13:23)? Only God can (John 6:44). If you aren’t a Christian, ask God to repaint a new nature in you.

Men who could not sin would not be men; they would be good clocks ticking out goodness. – George Arthur Buttrick