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What Is In
My Heart Today?
"As water cannot rise above its
source, so our words and deeds cannot rise above our heart." -
Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations
In a discussion on what veritably defiles a man, the Lord Jesus
- in Matthew 15:18-19 - taught us some very important principles
- "But those things which proceed out
of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies."
He pinpointed the source of all Sin to be the heart - "...out
of the heart proceed..."
He taught that the mouth was the usual indicator of what
actually was stored up in it -
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth
from the heart..."
Then He listed several things to look for which could
possibly flow from a man's heart and bring defilement to his
soul and life -
"evil thoughts" - This
includes all wicked thoughts, purposes, devices, and motives
against others.
"murders" - Another
name for this is malice which is a deep-seated, almost
unexplainable desire to see another suffer.
"adulteries, fornications"
- These unclean and wanton streams flow from a heart where
lust reigns.
"thefts" - This
includes the coveting as well as the carrying away of
another's property without their knowledge or permission.
"false witness" -
This is giving a wrong summation of the facts as well as
concealing the actual truth in order to injure another's
character or reputation.
"blasphemies" - This
is speaking injuriously against God and His nature and ways
as well as against another man's character.
But what happens when a person lies in
order to give a false impression or to present an entirely
different picture than what is being seen by all? Then we
have to fall upon another indicator besides the mouth to
evaluate the true condition of another's heart.
As we look into the Book of Proverbs, we find an example of
a defiled man as Jesus described in Matthew 15. However, at
first glance, his words seem to be showing one kind of
personality when another is involved -
"For as he
thinketh in his heart, so is he..."
In this particular case, his
words are deceitful and are not substantial evidence
for what is really in his heart. His overall attitude tells
it all.
Proverbs 23 introduces us to this certain ruler who held a
feast consisting of "dainty
meats."
Solomon warns us that - even though we may find ourselves in
such a situation - we should not
"be... desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful
meats."
We are then told why in Proverbs 23:6 - this man has "an
evil eye." In other words, he is envious,
grudging, and hardhearted...sour, malignant, and given to
lusts and passions.
At first, we would never know it for his words are very
congenial - "...Eat and drink,
saith he to thee..." However, this is all a
facade for the Scripture says - "...but
his heart is not with thee."
Here we have a man whose heart was defiled by
"evil
thoughts"(wicked devices against
another), "murders"(malice
and hatred for another), "covetousness"(lust
and greed), and
"false witness"
(lies, trickery,
and deceit). We would never know it simply by his words. We
know it by his overall attitude or heart.
His spirit indicated that he was not really sincere in his
show of friendship and congeniality.
Let's think about what is being said
here.
"But those things which proceed
out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile
the man."
"For out of the heart proceed..."
"For as he thinketh in his heart,
so is he..."
"Eat
and drink, saith he to thee: but his heart is not with
thee."
From our study, we can conclude that the mouth is a
good indicator of what lies within a man's heart.
If someone is overcome with bitterness, bitter words will
spill out of his mouth from his heart.
If he is overtaken with a spirit of fear, then fearful words
will issue forth.
If lust has control of his heart, then filthy communication
will pour out of his mouth.
On the other hand, if Faith has a hold of him, then the Word
of God will be spoken.
However, in the case of someone who is defiled and lies
continuously - using deceit and trickery to conceal the true
state of his heart - then we can easily be deceived if we
only go by his words. In this case, we must examine
his entire spirit or attitude.
In Proverbs 23, with his words and compliments, the
ruler pretended interest, concern, acceptance, love, and
friendship for others, but his heart was not in it. In reality,
it was all a front. He did not welcome his guests at all.
He begrudged every morsel that they ate of his
"dainty meats."
Have you ever been guilty of such
dissimulation and pretense in friendships or relationships?
In order to appear kind and loving before
others, did you pretend generosity and acceptance when - in
plain words - you were stingy, greedy, covetous, and
self-centered?
Did you compliment others when you really
did not mean it in your heart? You had an ulterior motive for
doing so.
The Scriptures argue that we are very capable of speaking words
to God and men that are empty and meaningless. We can give the
Lord lip service all day long in order to appear spiritual or
righteous before men, and yet be so far removed from Him. We can
speak kindly and lovingly to others yet in our hearts despise,
scorn, ridicule, and look down upon them.
As Christians, we know that we must love others. God commanded
us to do so. But, oftentimes what comes out of our hearts is
a weak, phony, and ritualistic - "Love ya, Brother! Love ya,
Sister!" - when in truth, we don't love them at all. We
love ourselves too much to love another.
This ought not to be!
We can try to fool ourselves and others, but God - Who knows the
hearts of all men - reads ours correctly.
R. B. Kuiper once said - "A man's heart is what he is."
George Swinnock said - "The heart is the metal of the bell,
the tongue but the clapper."
We are to be a people who are pure in
heart - not defiled and unclean.
What is pouring out of our hearts today in our everyday
conversations?
Do we harbor "evil thoughts"
which are filled with malice, impurity, obscenity, deceit,
trickery, betrayal, or an exalted view of ourselves?
This is what we really are.
"As a man
thinketh in his heart, so is he..."
Our thoughts reveal our true
character to ourselves; our words, for the most part, reveal
our true character to others.
The Word of God tells us that the Lord Jesus is soon to
return for His Bride - the Church.
Ephesians 5:27 - Nevertheless, He is coming back for a
Church which the Apostle Paul described as being -
"...a glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be
holy and without blemish."
That implies one which is pure and not
defiled and that -
...does not lie nor live a lie
...does not say one thing and do another
...is overwhelmingly filled with the Presence
of Jesus so much so that the fruits of the Spirit are
evident in her life daily.
That is the kind of Church Jesus
wants for a Bride.
Will He marry you?
_________________________________________________
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
| © COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
