What Does Your Heart Tell You?By Lance Mosher
Have you heard of how Superman has been compared to Jesus? In the 2013 blockbuster, Man of Steel, the hero was sent to earth by his father, his father saying, “he will be like a god to them.” The earthly leaders wanted him killed, though he was trying to protect them. He eventually sacrificed himself for them, though he still lived. There was even one scene, where he was in a church building, and a manmade portrait of Christ loomed over him in the background. In that scene, Superman, being in a dilemma, was seeking the advice from a religious leader. The deep, theological answer given to him was, “What does your heart tell you?” That’s where the comparisons to Christ fall short, since Superman, apparently, followed his heart.
What does Jesus say about following the feelings and teachings of your heart? In a nutshell, He says, “Don’t!” First off, we’re not talking about the organ in your chest that pumps blood. Out of the 900+ times the word heart appears in the Bible, more times than not, it’s a reference to a man or woman’s innermost being- the place of feelings, desires, and emotions. Though the heart is an essential part of making appropriate decisions for Christ (Prov. 3:5; Acts 8:21; Rom. 6:16-18), on the road to heaven, your heart is not to be your leader. Christ is. Consider some warnings from Scripture.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. The world thrives on the saying, “Just follow your heart,” but the Lord says, “Beware of what is in your heart; if you allow it to take over, it could destroy your relationship with Me.” The concept of following your heart is a very selfish concept. Instead, the Scriptures teach that Christ is not able to work in you until you empty your life of selfish desires (“deny yourself”) and die to yourself (“take up your cross”).
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Instead of letting your heart (emotions, desires, feelings, etc.) take control, you should tell your heart who is boss! Christ is!
Direct your heart in the way of the Lord, and you will find true joy in your heart. Again, your innermost being must be in your service to God. In fact, Christ said that “the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23). Your entire spirit (including your heart) must be in your worship!
And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.'” As important as our hearts are, we must realise that our hearts, if put at the helm of our lives, will lead us astray. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man” (Matt. 15:19-20). See that your heart trusts in the Lord, and you be careful about trusting your heart.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Except where noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation
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