Readings
Proverbs 4:20-27Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Introduction
These days, we often hear the mantras "Follow your heart!" or "Do what's in your heart!" I wonder what people understand by the term "Heart" and whether this advice is wise. Especially as it seems to mean, "If it feels good, do it!"Obviously, those handing out this advice are not referring to the pump in our chest. We sometimes think of the heart as the seat of the emotions – understandably, because when we see something that stirs our emotions we can be aware of our pulse racing, and feel our heart thumping in our chest. We talk about someone "wearing his heart on his sleeve", meaning he lets his emotions show easily.
Interestingly, in Biblical times, the bowels were considered the seat of the emotions – and we can understand that because we've probably all experienced "butterflies in our stomach."
Do any of you remember being told, "I love you with all my heart"? Perhaps you're glad you didn't live in Biblical times because you might have heard, "I love you with all my bowels!"
But, actually, when we say "I love you with all my heart" we're not just talking about emotions. We're really saying, "I love your from the very core of my being," and that's much more like what the Bible means when it talks about the heart; our heart is our inmost being.
The verse that was the starting point for this sermon is Proverbs 4:23:
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
The implication is that our outward behaviour has its origins in our inmost being. Also, our inmost being is mutable; it can change, it can be damaged – or why else would there be a need to guard it? And if our heart, our inmost being, is damaged, what will "following our heart" lead to?
What we are in our inmost being is what matters to God. 1 Samuel 16:7c tells us that,
"People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
We all project an image of ourselves that we want others to see. That image is never quite the same as the person we really are inside. For instance, there are three people standing in this pulpit. There's the person you perceive, the person I'd like you to perceive, and the person that I really am. To some extent, we all wear masks to hide aspects of our real selves from others. Sometimes, and for some people, the external image can be very different from the internal reality.
God always sees the internal reality. Always.
Our personal integrity matters to God: "Above all else, guard your heart..."
Diagnosis
So, what does God have to say about our hearts? What's his diagnosis? Jeremiah writes in chapter 17:9ff"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind …"
Dare we be guided by our own hearts? If our hearts are deceitful, how can we understand what's right to do and what is not?
I was on a shopping trip in Newcastle one Saturday and stopped off for a coffee. I couldn't help but overhear what the young men on the next table were saying. I can't repeat what one of them said about his behaviour with a woman he met in a night club the day before. His mates, of course, approved. What he, and I presume the woman, had in mind felt good, so they did it …
If the only point of reference we have is what's in our own hearts, then it's no surprise the world is in a mess. As Jesus says in Mark 7:20ff,
"… 'What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from the inside and defile a person.'"
God always sees the internal reality. Always.
Now, not everything in our hearts is bad. After all, human beings are made in the image of God. There are lots of good things done in this world, and these all flow from our hearts too. But we live in a fallen world and the image is broken and cracked, and, in some cases, completely shattered. Our hearts are mixed.
Our heart problem isn't just about bad behaviour. Following our heart is no guarantee of personal fulfilment. Philip Yancey, in his book, The Jesus I Never Knew, writes about how his career as a journalist gave him many opportunities to interview sports stars, movie actors, music performers, best-selling authors, politicians and TV personalities. He says that these people whom we idolise are,
"as miserable a group of people [he has] ever met. Most have troubled or broken marriages. Nearly all are incurably dependent on psychotherapy. In a heavy irony, these larger-than-life heroes seem tormented by self-doubt."
Our hearts are unreliable guides.
Looking back at my own life, I see things that I wish hadn't been in my life, things I've done or failed to do. I grew up with no guidance other than my own heart and the influence of other fallen, broken people. My behaviour was the consequence of what was inside me—of what I was; but it wasn't God who made me that way.
The good news is that God loved me regardless of what I was – but he had no interest in leaving like that! He didn't make me what I was, and, since he found me, he's worked unceasingly to make me more and more what he wants me to be.
My destiny, according to Romans 8:29, is to be like Jesus. God is working in me to that end. I only wish I'd been more cooperative, more compliant down the years.
God always sees our internal reality. Always. But he also sees our potential. He knows our hearts are faulty, and that the only remedy is to change them!
Remedy
God is the one who has the remedy. We need to go to the doctor and take the medicine.God knows our hearts, and that may make us want to run away from him. But he wants us to run towards him and begin doing something about our problem. That's called repentance.
In James 4:8, we read,
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
But we come to him, with repentance, knowing that we cannot sort ourselves out. We need a radical change of heart. We need to ask for his help.
As we read in Psalm 86:11b
"… give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."
And in Psalm 51:10
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
These are prayers that God is ready and willing to answer. He says through the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 36:2ff
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; … And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
Maintaining Good Health
So, how can we guard our hearts? How can we maintain the good health of the clean, new heart that God gives us?• Well, first of all, we need a heavenly focus.
In Colossians 3:1, Paul tells us,
"Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
We know that this world will come to an end. We know that our lives here will come to an end. If we focus on earthly comforts, whatever we achieve or acquire we leave behind the second we die.
I had an uncle who was a self-made man. He came from a poor, working-class family and became a millionaire. When he drew in his last breath he was very wealthy. When his last breath left him, he had nothing!
But in Christ we have all eternity to look forward to. We need to focus on things with eternal value. This doesn't mean we are to become so heavenly-minded as to be of no earthly use. It means living in the light of our destiny; living by the values of the kingdom we now belong to. Jesus said, "… where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
And in Psalm 37:4 we read,
"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
This verse isn't a guarantee that we'll get everything we ever wanted. I understand it as part of the renewal process going on in my life. The more I delight in God, the more I understand what's really important; the desires of my heart change. God gives me new desires for things that please him, and it's those desires that he's willing to fulfil.
• Next, in guarding our hearts, we need to avail ourselves of reliable guidance.
In Psalm 119:11 the psalmist writes,
"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
If we know our Bible, we have something to judge the thoughts and intents of our hearts against. Last time I was here, I spoke about making the most of your Bible, so I won't labour the point today. But I have to say that I've discovered that, in general, Methodist people are not well grounded in scripture. I have to say that discovery saddens and bewilders me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says,
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
In our walk with God, we will sometimes find ourselves moving in directions which don't sit comfortably with our hearts. We've probably all heard stories of people battling against God's calling on their lives, and after they've finally given in to him, discovering it was exactly the right thing for them. If they'd followed their hearts, they'd have gone in the wrong direction.
• Then, in guarding our hearts, we should depend on God's provision.
Philippians 4:6,7 says,
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Anxious circumstances can tempt us to act rashly, undermining our integrity. Taking things to God in prayer gives us pause, reminds us whose we are and that he has things in hand. And the peace he gives us enables us to trust and act with integrity. I could give you a personal testimony of that if there were enough time. Ask me afterwards, if you like.
In John 7:38, Jesus says,
"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."
The Revised Standard Version expresses this as, "out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water."
John goes on to explain that "rivers of living water" refers to the Holy Spirit. God puts his own Holy Spirit right in the hearts of believers; the Holy Spirit who comes to strengthen, to guide, to comfort, to bring assurance of salvation, to empower, to produce fruit and gifts, and to bring spiritual wisdom and understanding. Rely on the Holy Spirit.
• Lastly, in guarding our hearts, we need to keep in view our great reward.
In Matthew 5:8, Jesus tells us,
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
Here's a simple definition of the word pure. Pure means unmixed. At home, we have a bag of "Pure natural sugar." The bag contains nothing else, no impurities.
If our hearts are mixed, they are impure, and impurity creates a barrier between us and God. Keeping our hearts pure means the barrier can't exist and we will see God. This isn't just when we reach heaven; it's here and now too. Here and now we can see the evidence of God at work in our lives, we can experience what it is to live in relationship with our creator, our loving Father.
Summary
So, winding this all up,• God always sees our internal reality. Always.
• He has the only remedy for our hearts.
• He provides the means to keep our hearts safe.
• What's the state of your heart?
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Don't follow your heart – follow Jesus!
