Jeremiah speaks of the heart of man. "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the result of his deeds." (17:9-10)
It's hard for many to believe that their heart is more deceitful and desperately sick. Yet here is God speaking through Jeremiah that's the case. Listen to this in Proverbs: "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered." (28:26) Only a fool trusts in where his hearts leads him. What are we to do? If the Lord is the one who searches the heart (and He does) and tests our minds (and He does) the only thing we need to make certain is our hearts are surrendered to Him. God never intended for us to follow our heart but give it wholly to Him to direct our lives.
In Luke 18, a ruler came to Jesus inquiring of Him what could he do to inherit eternal life. First, the man knew Jesus possessed eternal life and secondly, he knew eternal life was different than human life and he didn't have it! What does Jesus do? He went for the heart of the man. Jesus spoke of the commandments and the man admitted he had kept the commandments from his youth (v.21). But something was still missing. Jesus points out there was one thing still lacking. He must part ways with his possessions! The man's heart was tied to possessions. Yes, he could keep commandments but his heart couldn't let go of what possessed him. His heart wasn't wholly involved.
Jesus dealt with the heart of man. People can do well religiously but the heart needs to be given over fully. The Lord searches the heart! The Lord knew he loved his things. So the test came: sell and follow! Was your heart really in it? The heart is more deceitful and desperately sick. This man became very sad (v.23). His heart grew heavy because he couldn't give up what possessed his heart. Yes he could keep some of the basic commands but his heart wasn't in it! That day three things happened: (1) Jesus exposed a deceitful heart showing the man loved his possessions more than he did God. (2) The man, though religious, was an idolater. His possessions was his god and he couldn't give them up. He was unaware he was an idolater. His heart deceived him. (3) Eternal life was nothing more than another possession for him and he wanted to gain eternal life based on one good thing he could do. He wanted to merit eternal life by something he did! How many do that today? How many believe that God will bring them to heaven because they are basically good?
Too many are trying to walk with the Lord, worship the Lord and live for the Lord without a sincere heart given to the Lord. They are religious in all aspects but their heart loves other things more. People get upset at something and they spew their venom at the person rather than self control and love. That's a heart issue. People use foul language or by-words substituted when upset and that all comes from the heart, exposing the heart. "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Rom. 12:14) The only way that can happen is a heart given to the Lord to place within the proper things from God and during the times of stress, it comes to showing our hearts. How's your heart?
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