Inside Out

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

Probably one of the worst pieces of advice given to those looking for direction is the counsel to, "Follow your heart." I've lost count of the times I've heard this proverb offered as guidance to a young character in a popular movie. But, the discerning student of Scripture should consider the implications of such worldly advice.

The Old and New Testaments teach that the heart is the place where the intellect, emotions, will, and moral conscience reside. The word, "heart" ("leb" in Hebrew, and "kardia" in Greek), is often interchangeable with the word, "mind" in Scripture, and as such, it is the seat of reason and volition. In other words, the heart motivates us to behave in certain ways according to its reasoning.

The problem in following your heart is that it will deceive you because of the infection of sin. Your natural sinfulness guarantees the deceitfulness of its counsel, and if you reject the Christ of the Bible, and remain unconverted, your heart will lead you on a treacherous path to eternal damnation. God's Word is clear; the unbelieving "heart" will take you to hell.

Even the Christian--the person who has embraced the salvation offered freely by God through His Son, Jesus Christ--must make a daily choice. His conversion does not negate his free will. Although he has begun changing to "Christlikeness", his life choices remain. Submission to the Word, will, and way of God, or endeavoring to fulfill his heart's sinful, selfish desires becomes a daily decision. The Christian's spiritual growth is determined by the occasions he denies his heart's "natural" desire, as he submits to the "supernatural" instruction of the Holy Spirit who resides within him.

Total conversion, or change into the image of Christ (the ultimate goal of the Christian), is a supernatural process that transforms the will of natural man, and conforms his mind to that of the Savior. It is a change that manifests itself from the inside as it transforms the heart, and works its way outward in Christian behavior.

Salvation supernaturally forms a "new creature" out of a depraved sinner. In the Scriptures, the Apostle Paul assures us:
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17

A definite change has occurred for the man who is "in Christ." He is instantly changed in his "position" in relationship to God. His sins are no longer applied to his account, but are now fully atoned for by the shed blood of the sinless Savior. The sinner is immediately "justified" and in right standing with God at the moment of his salvation, but his transformation into a holy creature of God has just begun.

The new believer's reasoning and will have begun a marked process of supernatural transformation and conformity into a sanctified creation of God. In other words, as his will is yielded to God, his "heart" is changed. But, until total sanctification (ie. holiness; separation to God) is attained (in heaven), following the heart's natural inclinations or God's supernatural instruction remains the Christian choice. And--it is most important to understand--the unsaved, or unconverted sinner has no choice! The selfish and deceptive yearnings of his depraved heart are his guide, along with daily prompts from the "world", and the "devil".

The standard to follow through life should never be the human heart. Humanity's standard must come from outside his sinfilled experience. And we've been given the ultimate standard for life: God's holy, inerrant, infallible Word. The writer of the book of Hebrews declares:
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The living Word of God pierces the human heart, revealing its evil inclinations and motivations. Its truth illuminates the lies and depravity prevalent in human nature. As it becomes reality to us, and we accept and implement its precepts, we are transformed, and our Christianity is revealed as light shining in darkness. This manifestation of light begins as an inward change that radiates in outward behavior.

Can a person who is unsaved live an outwardly moral, benevolent, even religious life? Of course the short answer is, yes. But, the Lord, Jesus Christ made this sobering declaration about the true state of such people:
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Matthew 23:27, 28

Mankind's resolutions to behave in certain benevolent ways will eventually give way to his sinful condition. True rehabilitation for the alcoholic, drug addict, or career criminal must begin at the innermost, and darkest part of his being--his "heart"--to be effective, and lasting. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is his only real hope for transforming deliverance.

The redemption of mankind through the cross of Christ is the only route to eternal change available to man. It becomes a total transformation that occurs from the inside out for each individual believer. Follow Jesus Christ for eternal life, or "follow your heart" to your destruction. The choice seems obvious.