Throughout the Scriptures we are told how evil men’s hearts are. Even many good and decent men had their moments that make us cringe. Ultimately, this is why Jesus had to fulfill the letter of the law and become the last ceremonial sacrifice for our sins. Proverbs 4:20-27 tells us to keep GOD before our eyes and in our hearts so we can be assured our we will not be led astray. David asked GOD to keep him as the apple of HIS eye, which describes something precious that is easily injured and demanding protection. David wanted to be kept by God as if he were something valuable and even fragile. Well this is what our heart is, and if we fail to ask GOD to search our hearts and keep us pure, then we are in peril of becoming like the evil men of the world.
When men and women fail to seek GOD’s approval and guidance, they are in essence leaving their hearts open for all kinds of evil. They live in darkness and cannot sleep until they’ve done their mischief as they go through the day. They will even lay upon their pillow at night before they sleep, pondering what evil things they will do tomorrow. The way of the wicked is so dark, they are clueless that their evil deeds will eventually come back on them as they stumble and fall. Yes I know it seems like the evil people just die and never see justice, yet on Judgement day they will face justice as they stand before GOD,
For it is written: “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL
BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.”
(Romans 14:11)
However, the just and righteous man will walk the path that is acceptable to GOD. A path that will be illuminated by the shining light of the Holy Spirit, guiding their steps for a more perfect life as they go through their day.
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in
its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
(Psalms 1:3)
To be assured we walk as GOD desires us to, HE tells us’
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do
not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
(Proverb 4:20-23)
The Bible speaks of the soul, the emotions of man at a conscious level, but it speaks also of the heart of man, which is always considered one level deeper.
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”
(Matthew 12:34)
“Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man;
but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
(Matthew 15:11)
We also know from Scripture, that the heart is evil in it’s intent. Which mean that if we do not keep guard it will lead us to doom.
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
hat every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
(Genesis 6:5)
It has been said that the heart of man’s problem, is his heart, because one’s heart reveals their true nature. It is in the heart where we learn what person’s true intent. Or as we say, the true will of man is determined by his heart. Many confuse a person’s thoughts with a person’s heart. However, Scripture tells us there is a difference between what one’s mind can tell them and what one’s heart will tell them.
if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
(Romans 10:9)
What you believe in your heart affects the way you live, what you believe in your mind can pass by and have no effect upon the way you live. This not to say our minds should be shut down, but rather when our hearts are one with GOD, our minds will become more useful for HIM. Often times thoughts will come into our mind that we don’t like, and thus we will ignore those thoughts. However the truth of who we are comes from the heart. What the mind thinks cannot effect one’s intentions unless at first the heart was already inclined to follow such desires. We can either invite God into our hearts, or leave it open for Satan to get in. Our actions will always be effected by which one we allow in, because our minds will always be controlled by the one living on our hearts. This is a truth we learn from Jesus when he was responding to the Pharisees about why do HIS disciples did do not wash their hands in the traditional way of the elders. Jesus scolded them for their traditions that made God’s commandments of no effect. He went on to explain were the true defilement of men comes from when he said,
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”
(Matthew 15:19)
When something is deep down within our heart, that is when it will effect our life. Whether for good or bad, our heart will direct our path. This why we must seek the LORD so that HE can cleanse our hearts of all evils. We read that after Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king. Yet he was evil, because he never sought advice from God.
And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.
(2Chronicles 12:14)
Jeremiah tells us how evil the hearts are when he spoke of the sins of Judah, He is basically saying that even if a man is so blessed for having faith in GOD, then why is it we still put more trust in our flesh? The answer is because man’s heart is incapable of seeing things in a straightforward manner, that the poison in it continually seeks to take advantage of others, as was the problem even with the good people of Judah, thus he said,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
(Jeremiah 17:9)
This is why we must continually seek the LORD’s advice and do what David did when he asked,
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting
(Psalms 139-23-24)
David, was a man after GOD’s own heart, yet he knew his weaknesses and how easily it was for him to stumble, because it is out of the heart that the issues of life spring forth, and this is why we are told to,
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look
straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let
all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.
(Pro 4:24-27)
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