Have you ever had an EKG, echocardiogram, or stress test? If so, you were probably experiencing some type of bad heart symptoms. When it comes to the heart everyone needs to keep a check on theirs. Lots of things can cause damage or disease to this vital organ. How much more do we need to examine our "heart of hearts" where our character, desires, motives, and attitudes dwell. Introspection should be a part of our daily lives.
Unfortunately the human heart can be deceiving. (Jeremiah 17:9) What powerful tool, like an ex-ray, could we use to search out and reveal the truth of its contents. If you read the verse below the answer should be plain:
Hebrews 4:12 King James Version (KJV)12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
From His Word God reveals our ungodliness and shows us our individual sins. Along with His Spirit He convicts the unbeliever and chastises the Christian. It does nothing for us to only hear the truth though. If we don't seek to obey His Words then we are deceiving ourselves. The Bible is for instruction, reproof, correction, doctrine...as II Timothy 3:16 teaches us. It's not the dead letter but a living word when God's spirit sends it deep into our souls, convicting us of sin, and revealing true righteousness and judgment.
If you have made a covenant with Jesus Christ then your heart is supposed to belong to Him. He made a written agreement or pledge with you. It was written in his precious blood upon your heart. To prove your love for Him keep his commandments. And they are not grievous.
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; Hebrews 10:16
GOD SPEAKS TO OUR HEART
In the New Testament, a certain Samaritan woman had an encounter(life changing) with a man(yet more than a man) named Jesus. He informed her that he had life giving water to give her. She asked him for it. Then he showed her the sin in her life. And he revealed- to her amazement - that he was the Messiah to come. Faith rose in her Heart and she ran to the city to be a witness for Jesus Christ. (John 4)
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 4:6
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22
We can't have a divided heart.A certain ruler knelt before Jesus and asked, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said "You know the commandments" and he listed some of them. The man told him that he had been keeping the commandments and he wanted to know what he lacked. Jesus looked into the heart of this man and pointed out the one thing that hindered him from eternal life. He said,
" Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." The man was rich and went away sad because he was covetous. Jesus had examined his heart and told him the remedy for his disease. And it seems he rejected it and kept the idol of 'mammon' in his heart.
(Matthew 19; Luke 18; & Mark 10)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16
SIGNS OF HEART DISEASE
One huge sign that our hearts need examining is our everyday words. The Bible says that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. What dwells or rules in the heart will come out in our conversations as well as actions. Do we often complain like the Israelites in the wilderness? Or maybe we are heard speaking bitter, unforgiving words about someone who has hurt us. What about the lies that come from our lips? By ourselves we can't tame the carnal tongue but when we yield it to Jesus he can and will. ( James 3)
Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11
The words we speak have their roots in what we think. If our thoughts aren't pleasing to God then ultimately our words won't be either.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matthew 12:35
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Psalm 10:4
Remember the story of the Pharisee and the publican praying in the temple?
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18)
The Pharisee's prayer was full of pride and deceit. He could only spew out self-righteous notions, praising himself. That's what happens when we pay more attention to the outward appearance instead of examining our heart and the desires and motivations within us.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? II Corinthians 13:5
REMEDY FOR HEART PROBLEMS
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:6-8
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97
