equally skilled

I was listening to Jon Foreman on the way to work this morning and this song struck me and convicted me.  It reminded me how we have the capability to be very evil and yet very good...with the same set of "hands".  Those can be either figurative "hands" or literal hands.  I am pretty sure these lyrics are taken from scripture, but I'm not sure where.  It's just amazing how when we really think about it, the only being we can really trust in all the world not to hurt us is the Lord.  It also means that I am more than fully capable of destruction with my words and my deeds.  I cannot be comfortable living in both places...doing good and doing evil.  If I speak in one breath good and the other bad...how can I say I am striving for holiness?  I want to live a holy life, but yet I can fall so easily into small traps like gossip.  Whether or not this ever hurts anyone else...it's still hurting me.  I may just not realize it at the time.  I'm glad for this lesson today and I hope that we can all glean something from it!


Equally Skilled by Jon Foreman
How miserable I am
I feel like a fruit-picker
Who arrived here
After the harvest
There's nothing here at all
Nothing at all here
That could placate my hunger
The godly people are all gone
There's not one honest soul left alive
Here on the planet
We're all murderers and thieves
Setting traps here
For even our brothers

And both of our hands
Are equally skilled
At doing evil, equally skilled
At bribing the judges
Equally skilled
At perverting justice
Both of our hands
Both of our hands

The day of justice comes
And is even now swiftly arriving
Don't trust anyone at all
Not your best friend
Or even your wife
For the son hates the father
The daughter despises even her mother
Look, your enemies arrive
Right in the room
Of your very household

And both of their hands
Are equally skilled
At doing evil
Equally skilled
At bribing the judges
Equally skilled
At perverting justice
Both of their hands
Both of their hands

No, don't gloat over me
Though I fall, though I fall
I will rise again
Though I sit here in darkness
The Lord, the Lord alone
He will be my light
I will be patient
As the Lord
Punishes me
For the wrongs I've done
Against Him
After that
He'll take my case
Bringing me
To light and the justice
For all I have suffered

And both of His hands
Are equally skilled
At ruining evil
Equally skilled
At judging the judges
Equally skilled
Administering justice
Both of His hands

Both of His hands
Are equally skilled
At showing me mercy
Equally skilled
At loving the loveless
Equally skilled
Administering justice
Both of His hands
Both of His hands