In the first century, the “heart” was considered to be the center of one’s personality. Consider the following: when obviously referring to the “mind,” the Apostle Paul spoke of “…foolish hearts becoming darkened” (Rom. 1:21); when referring to the “will,” Paul spoke of certain people having “…stubborn and unrepentant hearts” (Rom. 2:5); and when referring to one’s “emotions,” Paul said that “…the love of God had been shed abroad in their hearts” (Rom. 5:5). Indeed, the heart plays a vital role in determining one’s overall personality. 

Apart from Christ, the heart is a pretty “dangerous” thing to be walking around with us. The Bible says that the heart that is not transformed by Christ is not only impossible to understand, but is also deceitful, diseased, dark, jealous, selfish, stubborn, and rebellious (Rom. 1:21; Jer. 17:9; Ps. 73:21-22; Js. 3:14; Ezek. 14:4-8; Jer. 5:18-25). Look at what the Bible says about the last king of Judah before the nation fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC: “He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel (2 Chron. 36:13). We should all avoid developing a “stiff neck,” whether physically or spiritually!

The media is consumed with telling people to just “follow your heart!” Now let me ask you, is that really what we want to tell people to do? Consider what Jesus said about the heart being the source of all evil communication and conduct: “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Mt. 12:34); Ouch on that one! He also said, “The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile a person. For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and slanders (Mt. 15:18-19). 

Certainly, this is why the “heart” is the focal point of God’s attention. In other words, God looks at our hearts first and foremost. When Samuel found David among Jesse’s sons to be anointed as the next king of Israel, God reminded Samuel that “…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Sam. 16:7). In similar fashion, God told Jeremiah the prophet that, “I, the LORD, search the heart” (Jer. 17:10). If God is searching our hearts each day, we might want to consider what He would find there?

Jesus says that if we are to be blessed, we need to be “pure in heart” (Mt. 5:8). The Greek word for “pure” refers to removing something unclean or useless like dirt from clothes, wheat from chaff, or impurities from metals. In other words, becoming pure of heart involves the removal of all that is unclean or useless from our lives, resulting in an undivided, authentic, and sincere heart. It means having pure motives in all the “good” things we do. I recall reading about a woman who came up to John Bunyan after the Sunday service and said, “Pastor, that was a great sermon today,” to which Bunyan replied, “I know, the devil already told me so!” 

But there is more to consider about having “a pure heart” and the reward that it brings, but it will have to wait until Peggy and I return from China. This might be a good time for all of us to take some time to identify those things in our heart that we either know or sense that God would want removed, and then ask Him to cleanse us and give us a “pure heart.” 

Many blessings to each of you during this special season before Easter!