“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
Father in heaven, Here we are again, seeking the wisdom that we need to make the choices that lead to life eternal. Only You possess that wisdom. So we bow in Your Presence today, and ask that You speak to us and fill our minds with a knowledge of You, which is the beginning of wisdom! In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
A word of explanation regarding the title of our series: by saying, “Let us begin at the beginning”, I am talking about the place where our thoughts and words, and actions begin; in the mind, or heart, as it is usually referred to in the Bible.
Here are two Bible verses, that illustrate rather clearly, what I am referring to:
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:34-37, emphasis provided).
Here Jesus is answering the Pharisees with a rather sharp rebuke, regarding the accusation brought against His disciples about not doing the “right” thing because they plucked and ate grains of corn on the Sabbath day! Jesus knew what motivated their criticism, and where it was coming from.
In Jeremiah we read the following about the condition of the human heart, and how God deals with it,
” ‘ “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings. . .” ‘ ” (Jeremiah 17:9, 10).
God made this very clear when He chose David as king of Israel. Listen to His words to the prophet Samuel,
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘ “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” ‘ ” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Here are several things of interest we should not lose sight of:
- We cannot trust our own hearts. We do not really know them!
- Our hearts are desperately wicked
- Only God knows our hearts!
- God tests the heart
- God gives to each person according to his or her ways, and actions, which are the result of the condition of their hearts.
This is the absolute proof of Jesus’ words.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”
This is the foundation upon which we will build to be able to try to understand the way God dealt with Job’s inquiries. Notice I said, “try to understand.” Our finite minds can never fully understand the infinite reasoning of the mind of the ALMIGHTY GOD!
This conversation will continue.