His Heart

Mr. Bill and I haven’t had much success keeping a GPS. Indeed, we were excited to own our first one! One of the boys borrowed it, and it was stolen from his vehicle. We bought another one, and it was promptly borrowed never to be seen again. We bought a third one, and we must track-it-down to use it. Apparently, we need a GPS to keep up with our GPS!

Have you ever seriously considered, in relation to Scripture, what it means to “follow your heart?” One dictionary defines it as, “to act according to one's feelings; to obey one's sympathetic or compassionate inclinations.” One web site boasts, “Your heart is more powerful than you think. Your heart can lead you to illumination.” I don’t know about you, but I can’t rely on my feelings or inclinations for illumination? Uh – no! The word “heart” appears more than 900 times in Scripture, and rarely refers to the physical organ but rather the source of human feelings, intellect, and emotions – the innermost being of man. If God’s Word is where we really seek Truth: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12); “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9); “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool.” (Proverbs 28:26a). Seriously, where does this follow-your-heart mindset come from? King Solomon concluded, “See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Clearly, man wasn’t content with the perfect state-of-being in which God created him. Instead, man rebelled, foolishly sought-trusted-followed his own way and inclinations! Make no mistake, the heart has its place in following Christ; it’s essential in obedience. Repentance comes from a heart surrendered to its Creator-Redeemer, and leads to salvation! True obedience comes from the heart: Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). Finally, Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). Oh, the beauty of following a heart guided exclusively by He Who created it, loves it, and rules it! The global positioning system (GPS) syncs with and relies on a reliable source – so does the heart of the born-again believer. Guarantee your heart’s position -- keep it fixed on Christ and … follow His Heart!