How About Your Heart

Many people will make impressions on you early on in life. One such person was Brother Carl Johnson, an evangelist from the Beckley WV area. As a child, I perceived him to be quite old as he had white hair and reminded you of an old time preacher (which I suppose he was). He stayed at our house during some of his meetings and he always carried a guitar with him. Carl is now with the Father, but we have his voice on an old cassette tape. One song I remember seeing and hearing him sing at our church was, "How About Your Heart." One verse and a chorus I offer for your reflection says this,

"Friend how would you feel if your heart were made with a window on each side?  So that all would know, not for outward show, but does Christ REALLY abide?  People often see you as you are outside, Jesus really knows you,  for He sees inside. How about your heart, is it right with God? That's the thing that counts today."

That is a pointed question, pointed at all human hearts, that no one will one day avoid an answer. A preacher once said, "God rules all things but one, and that is the human heart." It took me a while to see the point, and now I agree. Not that God cannot sovereignly rule the heart, but He let's you and me make a choice to follow or flee, to serve or to turn away, to confess Him or deny Him. In essence, we hold the condition of our heart in our own hand as the photo shows.

Physical Heart Disease is so rampant in the United States. The reason for this is largely brought upon ourselves as our eating is out of control or we do not get enough exercise. We have made a choice to damage ourselves. Without God's Son Jesus Christ in your spiritual life (your Heart) you're doing the same damage only the Eternal consequences are ultimately beyond repair and even beyond the imagination.

For a believer, sometimes we begin to desire to rule our own hearts with our own self advancements. It is important to note we cannot become eternally condemned, but we can become Earthly miserable. When we draw ourselves away from prayer, Bible reading and study, fellowship with the Saints, ministering to needs of others, our hearts get out of shape and even hardened.

Is it possible for a believer's heart to be hardened towards God? The simple and sad answer is Yes. When we sin and habitually desire to turn from what God prescribes we lose ground in ourselves. It's like cutting off the food supply we enjoy day after day. It is said that man can go without food for weeks, but without water for a couple of days before dying. Why do we desire to stray and inevitably starve ourselves from His presence? The longer we stay away, the harder and more selfish our hearts become.

What are some signs of a hardened heart?

• A lack of daily prayer



• Going long periods without personal Bible reading



• Having no song of praise on your lips



• Disgust for the preacher and the preaching



• Lack of church attendance



• Grumbling against God for whatever situation or reason

All of us have some form of the above in us now, its our sin nature at work, but we do not have to let it be dominate. Do you find yourself struggling in one of these areas? Has your love for God and His Word flickered? Such a sign is dangerous if it goes unchecked. The end result is a miserable hopeless life experience that has little to offer or receive.

It is good for us to examine ourselves in the Faith. Paul encourages us to do so in 2 Corinthians 13:5. We don't like to do that, lest we find something that doesn't belong in our lives. Christ wants nothing more than for our hearts to be like His. The Great news is, to be reconciled to God is simply a matter of prayer in genuine confession and repentance.

In this world our physical heart can be bypassed to be healed. Fortunately our God can take what is broken and restore it without bypassing any of His love, truth or holiness.

If you find your heart away from Him consider praying with me,

Lord Jesus, my heart is far from you and it is entirely my fault. I claim 1 John 1:9 and desire you to rekindle my desire for you to be Master of my life. Please forgive me from straying and having it my own way. Be my way and source of guidance from this day on. Amen.

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Photo by Jon Browning