Life Springs Out From the Heart

Life Springs Out From the Heart

This is what Solomon says in his proverb about a person’s heart, and for this reason he also gives the important exhortation that the heart should be kept with all diligence. Prov. 4:23. In a person’s heart there are many thoughts, counsels, and deliberations. These arise in a natural man from one’s human understanding, judgment, and feelings. Often these are based on what the eye sees and what the ear hears. If all these thoughts are allowed to take root unhindered in a person’s heart, they will determine that person’s life and behavior.

Already in the Old Testament, there was a strong exhortation to be humble and to seek wisdom and the fear of God, so that they wouldn’t automatically consider their own thoughts as being correct and reliable. For example, in Ch. 2:2-5 we are exhorted earnestly to turn our ears to wisdom, to cry out for insight, to seek and search for the fear of the Lord—and for the self-reflection and discretion that will preserve us. V. 11.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Prov. 3:5. “Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live.” Prov. 4:4. “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.” V. 20-21. “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.” Ch. 19:20-21.“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” Ch. 28:26.

Now we live in the New Covenant, with infinitely great and blessed possibilities of keeping our hearts pure, and from there, remaining in purification and sanctification leading to greater light and greater wisdom. This requires deliberate effort, because of the Fall, and because we have a body of sin. There is so much that we are still unaware of and that is still beyond the reach of our light. There are so many things that—without even knowing or realizing it ourselves—can cause us to react in such a human way. This can make us stubborn and headstrong, and difficult for others to get along with. Prayer, humility, and godly fear are needed so that the ears of our hearts can be opened more to be able to hear what God has to say and teach us. “He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.” Isa. 50:4.

It is vital that God’s word dwells richly in our hearts and does its important work there: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12. Just imagine what would happen if soul and spirit, joints and marrow were not divided—what would happen if all the thoughts and intents that arise were given free rein. The thoughts and intents of the heart must therefore be judged if we are to grow in wisdom and the virtues of Christ. This means that the word makes a division in our thoughts, and then there are quite a number of thoughts that we say a strong and decisive “No!” to.

Peter writes that we should heed the prophetic word so that it can shine like a light, that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns brighter and brighter and the morning star rises in our hearts. 2 Pet. 1:19. The thoughts that come from “my clever head” and from my soul with its unreliable thoughts and feelings can then be rendered inactive, as Johan Oscar Smith writes in a letter to Elias Aslaksen on March 5, 1927: “In order for Christ to rule as Head, we must know nothing, understand nothing, and judge nothing until the One to whom all judgment has been given makes His will known. We no longer have anything to say and must bear the cross of insignificance, which is a heavy cross to bear for the one who thinks that they know something. Thus, soulishness is rendered inactive, and poverty of spirit takes its place. Christ as the Head is then put to use, and ‘my clever head’ serves merely as a receiver for Him—Jesus Christ, the High Priest. We become as one who knows nothing, possesses nothing, and can undertake nothing.”

Keeping your heart with all diligence begins with purity as far as the light shines. And based on this acknowledgment that we have a body of sin, and there are many things that remain unconscious, a longing arises for more light, purification, and leading of the Spirit. We sense the need for the word to work within us and also for the preaching in the church, especially by the elders God has given us in our time. The light within us then becomes brighter and brighter, so that more and more of what is unconscious comes to light. And the glorious thing is that we can then work with it.

What a grace and what a glory that the life that springs out from our hearts becomes more and more pleasing to God and more and more of a blessing to our fellow man!