The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” Mark 7:6-8 (NIV)
Beware of outward profession without any inward change. The heart is deceitful and we are easily deluded by it convincing ourselves of the rightness of our motivations, actions and words. Take them to God’s Word and see if they measure up. Indeed, Jesus tells us in the above passage “They worship me in vain” stressing the futility, uselessness and purposelessness of the wayward heart. And the wayward heart wreaks havoc. It never brings peace – especially the peace that passes all understanding. The outward conformation without the inward transformation leads to one’s devastation. That’s why all attempts to reform this world, this culture, this country, or this society apart from a change of the human heart are basically futile. God not only sees the deed, He sees the motivation behind it, Amen? It is He that judges the heart and He always judges it rightly.
The greatest miracle (in my humble opinion) that God ever does is change the leanings of the human heart turning it to a completely different direction. Changing us from the inside out. Christianity is always an inside job. Conforming to the dictates of the Law without transforming our heart makes us like the Pharisees. Non-conformation with no change of heart makes us like Hitler or worse – if that could be possible. When one becomes a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence and we are to pay attention to His still, small voice. As Elijah experienced on Horeb, the mountain of God. God did not reveal Himself in the great and powerful wind or the earthquake or the fire rather in a gentle whisper. When we are full of our own fleshly agenda’s and a plethora of words and excuses, it is difficult to hear. It is when we are still and emptying ourselves of ourselves and being filled with His Spirit that He speaks to our hearts. It is His power that transforms us turning a sinner into a saint. Not the rules and regulations. They are only necessary to show us how far from perfection we are. It is the Holy Spirit that equips and changes us empowering us to be conformed into the image of Jesus – and we all have a long way to go, Amen?
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”Matthew 5:8 (NIV)