HOW FAR IS YOUR HEART FROM GOD?

JUST THINKING:

Many of us have been in situations where what we said is not what is in our heart. We say things that we do not mean to please people. One could tell someone else that you are looking good whereas in his heart, he is cursing or laughing at the other person’s clothing or sense of dressing. If our hearts were to be opened to all, many of us will be exposed. People will see us the way we are if their eyes see what our hearts say and think of them.

The state of our hearts is very important but we do not see the hearts of people with our eyes. Most people show their representation but their heart is far different from what they show us. If we are to see what others think of us in their hearts, most relationships will not last. The problem is that we judge people by what we see them do, what they say and what they present to us. One could pretend to be a good guy whereas he is not. One could also be a difficult person but he could be the nicest people at heart. This is why God is not man because he sees the heart while we see the physical appearance. We look and judge people by their appearance but God does not do that.

I Samuel 16:7 NKJV says, "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.”

We can hide our true state from men but not from God. Many of us even do to God what we do to men or people around us. Please, do not be fooled, you can’t deceive God with your show off, words, outward show and appearance. God sees your heart and the intentions of what you say and do. At times, what we say to God, what we sing in worship and what we profess about Him do not reflect our state of heart.

Matthew 15:8 & 9 say, “8 these people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 9 And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Our hearts could be far from God but our mouths are saying we love him. You could be that dedicated brother who spends all his time in church but your heart is somewhere else. If a lady attends church meetings just for the purpose of getting a husband, her heart is not right with God. Some will claim that, ‘I am a worker in church, I am a tither, I am a pastor, I am a giver, I am the pastor’s child but their hearts are far from God. Others will claim that they are soul winners but their hearts are far from Him. 

Your heart could be far from God if your intentions of serving him is to get what you want. When you pray just to fulfill all righteousness but you already have in mind what you want to do, your heart is far from Him. If you doubt and disobey his world, your heart could be far from him. When you use the call of God on your life for profiting and turning the house of God into a business center, your heart is far. When you say Yes but you say No in your heart and actions. 

Furthermore, when you follow the traditions and cultures of men instead of His word, your heart is not with Him. If you have ulterior motives (self-glory) for fasting and giving (you want people to know you give), your heart is not near him. If what you seek and do is for the flesh to be edified and gloried, your heart is far from God. This shows that we need to know the state, condition and position of our heart with God because if your heart is far from Him, your worship, service, love, giving, fasting and so will be in vain.