The Heart of the Matter, Part Two

I don't know about you, but I like to get to the root and the core of an issue. So much of what we deal with and even fight about is superficial, surface and external to the real issues. Ultimately, that begins with understanding the core of our own existence. Discovering what is in our own hearts will enable us to focus on our real issues, not focusing primarily on surface symptoms.

In Scripture, the center and core of a human person is called the "heart." All the core elements of our nature and lives can be found in our heart. Every virtue has its roots in our heart. At the same time, every element of our "sin disease" also has its roots in our heart. It could be that we spend so much time wrestling with the symptoms of our fallen nature because we never discover what the core issues are.

"Sin" is not a popular word in our culture, but looking at the story of how it entered into God's good creation reveals that sins exists because of a decision to rebel against God as Creator and Lord. Sin results from any attempt to live independently from God, to displace God at the center of all things, including our lives. In the end, the essence of sin is self-centeredness. To put it simply, the core and root of every sinful thought, word and behavior is some form of self: self-importance, self-indulgence, self-pity, self-sufficiency, etc. Having said that, it is clear that Scripture shines a light on the specific roots of sin in our nature.

Any pattern of sin comes from a hard, unresponsive heart (Psalm 73:7). It is a stubborn, rebellious heart that proves to be disloyal and unfaithful to God (Psalm 78:8). The prophet Jeremiah was famous for pointing out that "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (17:9). It is the tendency of a hard, human heart to scheme and conspire, to look for reasons to get one's way. Being beyond cure means that we are completely dependent on God to provide the cure. The prophet Ezekiel pointed out that the leaders in his generation, while being very pious, were setting up "idols in their hearts," resulting in "wicked stumbling blocks" (14:3). All idolatry is a heart issue. In fact, it could be said that, in essence, all idolatry is self worship.

I'm especially fascinated by the teaching of Jesus on the matter. In both the Gospels of Matthew (15:17-20) and Mark (7:21-23), Jesus commented on the superficial piety and hypocrisy of the Pharisees who were questioning why his disciples did not wash their hands before eating. Jesus responded by getting to the heart of the matter. The issue of eating was an external, surface issue and did not get to the core issues. After all, whatever a person eats will simply enter and eventually exit the physical body. It was not an issue of virtue or character. "There is nothing outside the man which can defile him" (Mark 7:15). Instead, Jesus pointed out that human defilement and corruption are the result of whatever is in the heart, and that certain corrupt elements in the heart eventually come out as sinful words and behaviors. The problem is not outside but inside. When we combine the teaching in Matthew and Mark we can observe a list of 14 issues that have their root in the human heart. Just attempting to manage their sinful words and behaviors will prove to be fruitless. Take a look at the list:

• Evil thoughts
• Murder
• Adultery
• Sexual immorality
• Theft
• False testimony
• Slander
• Greed
• Malice
• Deceit
• Lewdness
• Envy
• Arrogance
• Folly

That's quite a thorough list of human attitudes and behaviors. For Jesus, it was vitally important to understand that they were more than bad choices, that they had their roots in the human heart. These issues are really symptoms of deeper, core issues in the heart.

The apostles often commented on sin issues. Paul referred to a stubborn and unrepentant heart (Romans 2:5). The writer to the Hebrews spoke about an unbelieving heart (3:12) and the problem of bitterness taking root in the heart (12:15). James drew attention to the problem of bitter envy and selfish ambition growing in the human heart (3:14). Learning to discern the root and core of our issues existing and growing in our hearts is essential to the development of the character of Christ in our lives. While it is not a prerequisite for salvation and does not earn us any righteous "brownie points," learning to follow Christ in faithful obedience is the desire of Christ-followers and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

It's no wonder Solomon advised his son, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23). However, the ability to guard our hearts does not happen accidentally. Knowing how to guard our hearts calls for reflection on those things that foster a good and noble heart and an intentional, proactive focus on those things. Being honest about the condition of our heart can be difficult, requiring more awareness than we usually have. It's for that reason that God promises to occasionally provide a "test" that will show what is really in our heart (Deuteronomy 8:2). 

We are also encouraged to search our own hearts (Psalm 4:4). It is those who have a pure heart that will be able to "ascend the mountain of the Lord" (Psalm 24:3-4). "Create in me a clean heart, O God" (Psalm 51:10). 

Both Old and New Testaments speaking about the need to "circumcise" our hearts (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6). While that certainly involves entering into a covenant relationship with the Lord from the heart, it also includes a commitment to no longer being "stiff-necked," to having an open, soft, responsive heart toward the Lord. "Plowing up" the hard ground of our hearts is an ongoing challenge, one that can only take place if we commit ourselves to the process. A soft heart is the only kind of heart that can become the seedbed for the character of Christ. 

A soft heart is devoted to seeking the Lord as a lifestyle (1 Chronicles 22:19). A soft, responsive heart is one that serves the Lord with "wholehearted devotion" and "a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart" (1 Chronicles 28:9). A willing, obedient heart meditates on those things that are pleasing to the Lord (Psalm 19:14). A soft heart is a heart of humility, understanding it's radical dependence on God (Psalm 131:1). A heart responsive to the Lord is a single, undivided heart, a heart that is knit to the Lord (Psalm 86:11). It is a repentant heart, determined to return to the Lord with the whole heart (Joel 2:12-13). 

A heart prepared for the Lord has made a hiding place for God's Word in the heart (Psalm 119:11), and is committed to responding obediently to that Word (Psalm 119:112). "Search me, God, and know my heart" (Psalm 139:23). 

I once again return to the teaching of Jesus about the human heart. Jesus pointed out the difference between the good things that come out of the good store up in the heart as compared to evil things that come from an evil heart (Luke 6:45). He warned about a heart that is weighed down with "carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life" (Luke 21:34). Jesus also promised that those who are "thirsty" for living water should come to him and drink and he would give them living water. "He who believes in me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38). It is possible for a person who has a heart-to-heart relationship with God to, instead of being weighed down, experience an overflow of living water from the heart. 

The apostle Paul provided excellent guidelines for the cultivation of a pure heart. His overarching principle is this: "A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please the flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8). The human heart is pictured as a garden. It is possible to reap a harvest of eternal, abundant life, but that harvest will require a certain kind of seed to be sown. "Garbage in, garbage out!" Discerning the difference between the two kinds of seed requires careful and prayerful sensitivity.

Paul provided examples from his personal life. In more than one place he pointed out that all things were "lawful" for him. His personal salvation was based on a sure foundation of grace. He had answered the question of his personal standing before God. He had settled the issue: God was his Father and heaven was his home. I'm amazed at how often people ask what the least thing they need to do and still not go to hell! It's a grossly irrelevant and misleading question. That issue needs to be settled once and for all. However, although all things were lawful for Paul, not everything was "beneficial" or "edifying" (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). He could "get away" with some things that were not, however, advantageous, helpful or profitable. Some things would not involve breaking covenant with God, but they also did not build up or strengthen him in vitally important ways. A lot of things are entertaining without passing the edification test.

Paul went so far as to list the kinds of things that someone concerned about sowing seed that produced true life should focus on (Philippians 4:8), including things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. He encouraged believers to set their hearts on "things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1), and to direct their hearts to the love of God (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

In the end, it is the grace of God that is able to strengthen the human heart (Hebrews 13:9). It's also possible for our hearts to be broken. Almost every person has experienced giving their heart to someone or something, only to be broken and hurt as a result. Part of the mission of Jesus was to "bind up the brokenhearted" (Isaiah 61:1). It's comforting to know that God draws near to those with broken hearts in order to heal them (Psalm 34:18; 147:3). If the goal is to have a heart like God's heart, it will require God personal intervention as well as our conscious intention.

I love how the last stanza of an old Wesley hymn puts it: "Speak, gracious Lord, my sickness cure, / Make my infected nature pure; / Peace, righteousness, and joy impart, / And pour thyself into my heart." Amen.