As the condition of the heart is critical for good health, so the condition of the heart spiritually is critical for good spiritual health. We should not ignore any disruption, any corruption, any deviation, or any malfunction of the heart; we should be diligent to do what we can to have our heart in a right relationship with the Lord and to maintain that condition. Solomon said, Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4.23). Keep it, guard it, let nothing happen to it which will result in the corruptive power of sin to damage it, to hinder relationship with the Lord, and to detract from being used in the will of God. We should be vigilant in keeping the heart; we should be intensely willing to flee all sin and to watchfully keep guard so nothing would creep into it our hearts that is sinful, unwholesome, and detestable before the eyes of God.
To maintain the heart that is right with the Lord and pliable in His hands, shaping us as His instruments in the doing of His will, we must be focused. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you (4.25). The wandering eye looks at sin, is curious about sin, is enticed by sin, and can fall to the miserable temptations of sin. The eye which is focused on Jesus Christ will be intent on holiness and will have no desire for sin; it will be fixed upon the love of Christ and His desire to bring us into fellowship with Himself; it will see the horror of Christ’s death upon the cross and the tremendous cost of our redemption, bringing the joy of forgiveness; it will be consumed with the enabling of Christ who delights in seeing us walk in the light of His Truth; it will anticipate the coming of Christ and our rapture into His eternal presence. May we look straight ahead, having the assurance of the presence of God being ever with us, the Word of God being our light, the Spirit of God being our guide, the hope of God being our encouragement, and the will of God being our delight.
Gazing upon Jesus and His Word – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry
