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How is your Heart?
One of the great distinctions between man and the brute
beasts is the ability to think and to reason. In the
Bible, the seat of man's thinking processes is often
referred to as the "heart." For example, Solomon, in
Proverbs 23:7 wrote, "For as he thinketh in his heart,
so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart
is not with thee." Clearly, the word "heart" here refers
to the mind of an individual. There is much teaching in
the Bible regarding the heart, or mind, of man, and
there are many kinds of hearts which are presented.
The Bible refers to a wicked heart. Notice the message
of Genesis 6:5: "And the LORD saw that the wickedness of
man was great in the earth, and that every imagination
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
Again, in Proverbs 6:18 we read that "A heart that
deviseth wicked purposes" is one of those seven things
that are an abomination to the Lord. Jesus, in Matthew
15:18,19 said, "But the things which proceed out of the
mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the
man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false
witness, railings. . ."
and he is emphatic that behavior is a consequence of
thought.
Another kind of heart mentioned in the Scriptures is the
foolish heart. This is referred to by Paul in Romans
1:21, where he wrote, "Because that, when they knew God,
they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened." Having a darkened, foolish heart
resulted in a rejection of the light of God, and of the
evidences of God's existence (see Romans 1:20). Compare
this New Testament statement with the Old Testament
indictment in Psalm 14:1, "The fool hath said in his
heart, 'There is no God.'"
Closely related to the foolish or darkened heart is the
hardened heart. One of the most familiar of all the
Bible characters who is spoken of as having had a hard
heart was the Pharaoh of Egypt during the time of Moses.
Notice the following three passages from the book of
Exodus: "But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he
hardened his
heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had
said;" "Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is
the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and
he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said;" "And
the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened
not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses."
(Exodus 8:15; 8:19; 9:12). These passages show that the
hardening of Pharaoh's heart was a result of his own
stubbornness in refusing to acknowledge the sovereignty,
power, and authority of God. God, however, could use
even that stubborn man and demonstrate his greatness
(see Exodus 5:2; 9:13-17). The heart can be hardened by
refusing to believe the things which God has revealed
(Hebrews 3:12), by sin (Hebrews 3:13), or by failing to
heed the word of God (Hebrews 3:15)
Another kind of heart that is mentioned in the Bible is
an honest and good heart. This is the kind of heart
which each person is to cultivate, for it is the heart
which is receptive to the word. Jesus, in Luke 8:11-15,
explains the parable of the sower. The different soils
in the parable represented differing kinds of hearts,
and the various responses to the word of God which was
sown. In his explanation of the soil which was the "good
ground," Jesus said, "But that on the good ground are
they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard
the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
The importance of striving to maintain this kind of
receptiveness to God is seen when we heed the
instruction of the writer of Proverbs, who wrote, "Keep
thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the
issues of life" (Prov. 4:23)
May we always be aware of the dangers which face us when
we are tempted to put too much faith in man's wisdom,
and to blind our eyes to the truth of God. And may God
grant that we may ever have an humble, honest, and good
heart, to be guided in the paths of righteousness by His
divine Word.
Kenneth W. Burton |
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