Have you noticed how often the encouraging words "follow your heart" is given in life changing situations? When relationships are on edge, Just follow your heart. When a ethics at work are on the line, Just follow your heart. When naming your new born child, just follow your heart. In many more ways that I can say that advice is often given. In one sense it's given to not take any responsibility for someones actions. In another sense it makes someone depend on their own life experiences to make a drastic call. Follow your heart.
God tells us that the heart of man seeks out wicked ways.
Jeremiah 17:5-10 (New International Version)
5 This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
9 The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
10 "I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."
So now why would anyone dare suggestion that someone follow their heart?
Listen to Paul as he spoke in the book of Philippians.
Philippians 4:4-7 (New International Version)
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Listen for guidance and have faith in Christ alone for only He can guide you on the narrow path. Read your Bible the wisdom of timeless ages speak living words for today. You can then follow the right heart.
In today's Church we have closed the door to grace and taken the spirit away from the Holy Ghost. We have diluted the word of God so much that conviction isn't felt beyond the stain glass doors.We don't we want to offend anyone nor do we like to see people hurt. So we take the sting out of words and feed people happiness on a spoon paid for by the blood of Christ. We don't want to see them hunger so we feed them watered down dribble to keep them content, like a well fed baby. Just enough to make them think they are okay but not enough to upset their personal lives.
This reminds me of an article I read about newborns being given sugar water which used to be a old wives practice and somewhat still used today. Research has shown that this isn't a good practice at all and can cause serious problems such as water intoxication and blocking nutrient absorption. Magnified even more in a newborn if the practice is abused. This is the same thing with the church. If we continue to feed God's sheep sugar water we are not doing them any good but only condemning them to a life of hollow hopes, empty labors and eternity in Hell.
All around us people in our church are living and dying in a world of sin. They try to fit into society by feeding on fleshly desires and sharing fleshly desires. Lying, cheating, stealing, adulterers being blasphemous and shameful to their family in a fallen world. Yet we look to God to provide our needs to heal our sick and pay our bills when we can't even pray over dinner as a family. Our sons are off playing at a friends house who do nothing good but encourage rebellion. Our precious daughters worry about their weight and rather starve than face her friends as school tomorrow with a little baby fat on her thighs and yet she's only 11.
We are falling away from Christ as a church, as a family, as individuals.
Wake UP!
We have got to stop painting Christ in pastel colors surrounded by daisies. If we are not truly Christian by the righteous judgement of Christ we will bear the wrath of an angry God! Woe to those who have to face the wrath of the lamb. Christ alone took all the wrath for the sins we repented of. A wrath that will still fall upon all who are ashamed of and deny Christ.
Understand we must give Jesus Christ the Glory He so richly deserves. Christ alone deserves all our praise, all our devotion, all our works. When the day comes when we have to face God everything we have ever done is going to be laid out and examined. It will not be negotiable or debatable. There will be no lawyers to defend you. Jesus Christ says..
Matthew 7:21-23 (New International Version)
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The late Pastor Paris Reidhead said it best and we must have this same drive.
“Lord Jesus, I’m going to obey you and love you and serve you and do what you want me to do, as long as I live even if I go to Hell at the end of the road,... simply because you are worthy to be loved and obeyed and served, and I’m not trying to make a deal with you.”
We must learn to follow Christ giving everything to God but expecting nothing.
My sons are on this trip to where if you ask them to do something they want something in return. They loose so much when they propose this transaction than if they would have just done what I told them to do. Do not look to God to make a wager! You have already received your reward through the precious grace of Christ. Life everlasting. But the reward is only good as long as you are repenting daily because we all sin daily. Turn away from sin and have faith in Jesus Christ. Do not be ashamed to be a light in the darkness. Be bold and turn over the tables and spill out the sugar water. Burn bright for Christ.
As Paul said..I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I kicking up some dust and starting to write again. I'm still very busy and I can't let things get messed up as before. I feel more alive when I am writing out here. Just help me out and share.
