It is God’s word to us in Psalms 44: 21, For he (God) knows the secrets of the heart. We would discuss the secrets of the heart; God’s knowledge of our hearts; and God’s expectation of us as children of the kingdom of God.
Secrets of the heart
Each of us is a special creation of God in his image. By our special nature, we are also uniquely accountable to God. What differs from one person to another is the secret of the heart which is in two parts, the good and the evil. It is not everything we think or do that is visible to the eyes of men but the spirit which is not geographically limited.
Jesus said in Matthew 15: 18; Mark 7: 20 but what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. The source of our word, thought and deed is from the heart. Where the heart is without secret, all things would be predictable and evil will be avoided in favour of good. However, it is not so because of the secrets of the heart.
Science versus religion
By science, we may ascribe the thought processes to the brain but spiritually, it is not the seat of decision. 1Corinthians 2: 14 says those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (Read also verses 10 and 13).
No one can feign ignorance of the secrets of our hearts. 1 John 1: 8 says if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This verse affirms the fact that we are aware of the secrets of the heart which is the sin we hide from the public. We also read from 1 John 1: 10 if we say that we have not sinned, we make him (God) a liar, and his word is not in us. God’s truth is that the heart has secrets of sin, and when we deny it, we unjustly pronounce God as a liar.
Jesus said in John 14: 6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If we must be saved, then we must first accept and confess the secrets of the heart to God for forgiveness. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14: 25 after the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, “God is really among you.”
God’s knowledge of our hearts
The wickedness of our hearts
Genesis 6:5; 8: 21 say the LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. Joshua said of our rebellion in Joshua 22: 5 hold fast to him, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. What are the thoughts of our hearts which we are hiding from God?
The integrity of our hearts
God said to Israelites in 1 Kings 9: 4, walk before me as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness. God grieves at our hardened hearts. Mark 3: 5 says he (Jesus) was grieved at their hardness of heart. Jesus said in Mark 10: 5 because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. Galatians 6: 7 says do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
The pride of our hearts
Jesus said in Luke 16: 15 God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God. He knows when we come before him with questionable hearts. Acts 16: 14 says the Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. We must pride our hearts with purity. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 8 blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. God knows when the pride of our heart is evil so Jesus said in Matthew 9: 4 why do you think evil in your hearts?
The lusts in our hearts
Jesus said in Matthew 5: 28 everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. He said in Matthew 12: 34 for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. God knows the lusts in our hearts. Jude 1: 7 says likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah.. which… indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Are we guilty of sexual immorality?
The hypocrisy of our hearts
Jesus said in Matthew 15: 8-9 this people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me; teaching human precepts as doctrines. God knows the hypocrisy of our hearts. Paul said in Romans 8: 27 and God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. What hearts do we possess?
The iniquity in our hearts
David said in Psalms 66: 18, if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. We cannot hide any secret of our hearts from God. Acts 15: 8 says God who knows the human heart testifies to us by the Holy Spirit. Psalms 44: 21 says for he (God) knows the secrets of the heart. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10: 26; Luke 12: 2 says… nothing is covered that will not be revealed; or hidden that will not be known. Are our hearts free from iniquity?
What God expects from us
Jesus is the only one who has been ordained by God to save us. Peter said in Acts 4: 12, there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved. For this reason, Romans 2: 16 says God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.
So, Revelation 3: 20 Listen! I (Jesus) am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. How are our hearts before God? Let the secrets of our hearts be cleansed by the blood of Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, you only know the secret of every thought of the heart. Cleanse us from all iniquities that by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, we may present an acceptable heart to you in your holy name, Amen!!
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