What’s in your heart? I mean, what’s really in your heart? You
know, back behind all the pretty, appropriate stuff you want people to
see. Way in the back, where you’ve got
the door with three locks firmly closed and bolted. What’s in there? Why is it closed up? What are you hiding? Do you even remember?
When was the last time you looked in
there? Most importantly, have you ever
let Jesus look in there?
As
Elihu, one of Job’s supposed friends, is waxing eloquent in an attempt to prove
that Job has erred against God, he makes a statement that is imperative for
every unopened closet of the heart. Elihu says, “…it is meet to be said unto
God…that which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do it
no more.” (Job 34:31-32 KJV) The concept brought me up short. Do we truly not know our own hearts? Turns out the answer is “no.” We hide things from ourselves, fail to call
ourselves on our own sins, and excuse uncontrolled anger and hate under the
guise that if we direct it at something God hates then it’s okay. We whip out a measuring stick and use it on
everyone except ourselves, consistently pretending to be a never-ending fount of virtue even if our words and actions don't live up to it. Well, I say enough
with the hiding and skulking around. You can’t sneak your way into Heaven. It’s
time to let God show us what he sees in our hearts. And time to let him clean it out.
The fact is, heart
closets collect things. Past hurts. Injustices, both real and imagined.
Frustrations, embarrassments, disagreements, upsets. We stash them all in the
closet and they become a mosh pit of nastiness. They stew and fester becoming enormous vats of
anger, hurt, bitterness, jealousy and hate.
We hang on to them so long that it becomes easier to just close and bolt
the door and hope no one notices rather than haul them out and deal with them.
Or perhaps we think we have dealt with them because they seem to be under
control. But while they may stay dormant for a period of time, they will eventually erupt
into our words, actions, and attitudes.
For some reason, even then, we tend to push them back in and add another
lock to the door. I don’t know why. Really, who wants to hang on to that mess? And who truly believes they can hide it from
God?
You
can’t. He sees everything. (Proverbs 15:3) You can’t hide it from those around
you either. It seeps out. In Matthew
12:34, Jesus says that our mouths spew out what our hearts are hiding. If we speak hate, then hate inhabits our
hearts. If we speak love, then love
dwells within. And it’s not just in what
we say either. It’s in how we act. Are you showing hate or love to others? Are you shunning or welcoming the lost? Do remember the words of Matthew 7:20-21 that
say your actions will tell whether or not you are truly of God and that not
everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will make it to Heaven? If Jesus doesn’t
saturate your life, your words, and your actions then perhaps you need to check
into where he’s really living.
See, Jesus wants your whole heart. He won’t accept less. And since Galatians 5:22-23
tells us that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith and temperance, it’s pretty easy to
determine what should be found in our hearts and evident in our lives. Satan wants
your whole heart too, but he’s willing to take any corner he can get because he
just needs a space to get things brewing. And that’s how all those other
things, like envy, strife, wrath, and hatred get started. (Galatians 5:19-21) Be
aware, the two sides can’t coexist. They won’t.
Either you love or you hate. You must choose...God or Satan. (Matthew
6:24) You can’t have one residing in the
living room and one hiding out in the closet.
It just won’t work.
So, I ask you again, what’s in your
heart? Are you willing to check it
out? Can you take Jesus in every
crevice, corner, and closet? Does the light and love of Jesus fill your heart? Or
are you busy installing lock number three? If you are, don't waste your time. Ecclesiastes 12:14 says God will
reveal and judge every secret thing, so you might as well open that closet and
let God clean it out today. You’ll be nothing but
better for the cleansing.
