Turned Hearts

Have you ever wondered why the Bible warns us not to closely associate with people of bad character? Or why we shouldn’t marry someone who isn’t a believer in Christ? Or why it encourages believers to meet often in gatherings we call “churches” and “small groups”? If you’ve ever wondered about such things, it is because as human beings, our hearts are prone to wander. For many of us, our hearts are easily turned. To insure that we maintain a healthy relationship with God, and to help us operate in obedience to him, it helps when we surround ourselves with people who are pursuing these same goals. King Solomon learned this lesson the hard way. The Bible tells us, in first Kings chapter 11, that Solomon loved many foreign women from many nations who didn’t worship the God of his forefathers. Verse 2 goes on to say:

“They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, ‘You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.’ Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.”

You might think that you are a strong believer and that no human being could cause your zeal for the Lord to change or to grow cold. But Solomon was a strong believer. He was the son of David, and he knew the truth. He spoke to God at the beginning of his reign and God gave him a wise an discerning heart. God gave him a wisdom that surpassed the wisdom of any man who ever lived and any man that ever will live. Yet with all of his wisdom, and with his initial zeal for the Lord, his heart was turned and he worshipped other gods. So I encourage you to heed this warning. If Solomon’s heart could be turned, I wouldn’t want to put my heart to the test. And I hope you wouldn’t either.

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The Lord told the Israelites that they must not intermarry with people from other nations, because they will surely turn their hearts after other gods. It never ceases to amaze me how weak humans are. Yes, we experience moments of strength, especially when we are in step with the Spirit. But in our flesh, we are exceedingly weak. Our hearts are fickle and God is a jealous God. When we invite influences that are contrary to God and his nature, when we closely associate with people who oppose him and when we marry unbelievers, there is a good chance that our hearts will be turned away from him. That is why the Bible encourages us to think on heavenly things, to read his word and to pray often. We need to be believers of character. We need to expose our hearts to more of God and keep our hearts away from those who oppose him.

Clouded Future

If you have been alive for any length of time, you are well aware that life is filled with both ups and downs. Both are bound to come, and often times there is nothing we can do about it. But I encourage you, when things are good, take time to appreciate what God has given you and how he has provided for you. Use that time to encourage others, to help them and to pray for them, because we’ll never know when our circumstances will change. God doesn’t always give us a “heads up” when calamity is around the corner. So, we should enjoy the good times and expect that there will be bad times, because no one knows their future. Solomon explains it this way in Ecclesiastes 7 verse 14:

“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.”

I’ve said it before and I still hold to the same belief that any control we think we have over our lives is an illusion. God giveth and he taketh away. It doesn’t matter how righteous you think you are, it rains on the just and the unjust alike. Consider Job. I would dare to say that he was more righteous than most anyone on our planet today, yet he faced one of the worst calamities in the Bible. Like Job, we don’t know our future. But also like Job, we should trust God with our future. So I encourage you to hold loosely the control you think you have over your life, because just as Solomon explains, “a man cannot discover anything about his future.”

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Ecclesiastes reminds us that “when times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” We don't know our future. Life can change on a dime. So, I encourage you to enjoy what God has given you now. Praise him for his provision now. Thank him for his protection now. Because tomorrow, things could change. If they do, remember to cling to the one who is truly in control. Cling to God.

Holy Desire

It stands to reason that our level of faith is in direct proportion to how much we truly believe in what we say we believe. In other words, the deeper we believe in the Bible and the promise of heaven, the more we realize how fruitless the pursuits of life are, and we inevitably desire God in a way that is confusing to unbelievers. We begin to realize that nothing; not our human relationships, our financial successes, or even our public achievements matter. We come to know that all life has to offer amounts to nothing in comparison to God and our relationship with him. So, inevitably, the more faith we have, the greater our desire for God. Psalm chapter 73, verses 25 through 26 states it quite well. It says:

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

It is obvious that the writer of this psalm has high faith. They believe, I mean truly believe, in what they say they believe. As a result, they desire nothing on earth besides God. Many of us say we believe in God. But how often does our life reflect radical belief; a belief that is so strong that we can truly say “earth has nothing I desire besides you?” I don’t know about you but I want that kind of faith. I want radical faith; a faith that understands, as this psalmist did, that “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” I hope you desire that kind of faith as well.

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It is “human” to feel desire for something or someone. Desire prompts a longing that can only be filled once we’ve obtained the object of our desire. Some desires can be sinful, but others can be holy. The psalmist says that “the earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Only someone with radical faith can express this level of holy desire, because if we believe what the Bible says with all that is within us, life itself pales in comparison to God. Our priorities would change, our fears would fade, and our love would amplify. It is an inevitable result of high faith. I encourage you to stir your faith; to stir your belief in what you say you believe. And the only way we can do that is by exposing ourselves to the word of God and allowing our hearts to engage with the revelation that comes from the Holy Spirit.

Patience to Overlook

I believe it is human nature to want to see those who do wrong get their just punishment. Even as believers, we may want to chime in on what each wrongdoer’s punishment should look like. I watch a lot of true crime shows and I feel really good when I hear that a murderer is caught and even better when I hear that the sentence fits the crime. At times, we can let that mentality translate to those who have in some way offended us. We may want them to get what’s coming to them, so to speak. It is true that we worship a just God, but the Bible reminds us that it is not for us to judge and it is not for us to avenge. Those things are in God’s hands. Proverbs goes so far as to tell us that it is wisdom to overlook an offense. It says in Proverbs 19:11:

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”

If we examine the life of Jesus, it is easy to see that he was extremely patient and able to overlook several offenses. He was patient with the woman who was about to be stoned for her adulterous acts when he didn’t have to be. And he forgave those who mocked him, even while he was on the cross! In as much as possible, we are to be like Jesus. Proverbs tells us that if we want to be wise, we need to be patient with others even to the point of overlooking an offense.

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Proverbs tells us that, “a man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” If you stop and think about what has been forgiven us by our Lord and Savior, any offense by any human pales in comparison to how far we fall short of the glory of God. Though knowing this, it still may not be easy to forgive an offense. But that is what we are called to do. I don’t think we are being told that we are to be treated like a door mat, but we are to treat others the way we would want to be treated. And I would venture to guess that when you offend someone, either by mistake or knowing full well what you’re doing, you’d want that person to overlook it. So, I encourage you to do what Proverbs says. In as much as possible, overlook an offense.

Will Not Fear

One way you can tell if someone is mature in the faith is to observe them when life presents challenges. Do they well up with fear and anxiety, or do they lean on God, the one who is our refuge and strength, the one who is an ever-present help in times of trouble? Psalm 46, verses 1 and 2 says:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,”

I honestly believe that mature believers don’t fear in times of trouble because they know that when we are weak, God is strong. It is in those times that we should fear the least because the outcome isn’t in our hands. When we have to depend on God, that is the best place to be, because we realize what we should know in every situation; that things are in his hands. This knowledge may not shield us from being sad, feeling loss, or struggling with our emotions, but it should help with our fear. If we know that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, then like Psalms 46 says, “we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall in the heart of the sea.” You may be thinking that this is easier said than done, but I submit to you that this is something that should come naturally to any mature believer. So, I encourage you, when life throws you a curve ball, remember this truth.

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There are several areas in the Bible where we are reassured that God is in control. And when we truly know this, we should have no fear. Why would you fear when you know that God is in control and that he has your best interest at heart? There is nothing too big for God, and whatever life throws at you, God is always there with you even when it doesn’t feel like he is. The truth is that the foundation of our faith should never be tested to the point of showing any weakness. Because what’s true is always true no matter what we’re facing. And the truth is that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.