Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV): “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
The King James Version of the Bible mentions the heart 830 times. It does not refer to the heart as an organ. Instead, it is seen as the ruling center of a person; the spring of all desires. It is that spiritual part of us where our will, intellect, and emotions dwell.
“Follow your heart” is a creed embraced by the people of the world. How many times have we heard – even believed in – this statement? While it sounds tempting and feels liberating – the Bible warns us that our hearts are actually sick. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Yes, our hearts are naturally inclined towards sin from the day we were born. It causes us to fall into the routine of forgetting and forsaking God. But we can choose whether to continue sinning or not. We can either give in to a certain temptation or we can resist it by grace. Getting a promotion, passing an exam, or gaining popularity unjustly will never bring God’s blessings.
Jeremiah reminds those of us that are saved by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus, that the Lord examines the heart. He fully knows our thoughts and motives of the heart. There is no hiding from the Lord God, our Creator. He is righteous and will punish sin. But He is also faithful to fulfill His promises to those that love Him. He rewards those that place their complete trust in Him.
What will you choose today? Will you choose to turn your heart towards your loving God? Or, will you choose to reject Him and all His ways? Be careful about what you choose, for you will be rewarded accordingly.
