THE HEART OF THE MATTER: IDEAS (IDEOLOGIES) HAVE CONSEQUENCES

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thought, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…” (Matthew 15:18-20a)

“Woe (impending doom) to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20)

Many books and articles have been written about how one’s ideas quickly turn into actions. This is easy to document throughout the history of mankind. For example, this king Ahab stewed over wanting a neighbor’s vineyard. His evil wife Jezebel told Ahab not to sweat it – – she would take care of his heart’s desire. So, long story short, Ahab got his vineyard, and Naboth ended up dead! You will find the rest of this historical event recorded in I Kings 21. In the end, God had the final word for these two evil people!

Ideas and ideologies can be traced to the very heart of man. (Please don’t mistake the word “heart” to mean the physical organ that pumps one’s blood). The concept of heart in the Bible has to do with one’s mind, emotions and will, and mostly, in that order. One’s thoughts, ideas and/or ideologies (whether good or bad), have their origins in the mind of man! Notice from above that Jeremiah connects the heart with the mind! As the mind reflects or meditates on various matters, it often germinates into fruition. (Literally thousands of illustrations would substantiate that!

So, what are you thinking about, what is going through your head? Is it good or is it evil? Does it please God? THAT’S what you need to think about – –  after all, THAT’S what you and everybody else will be judged for by the final Judge of history – – the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah! THINK ABOUT IT!