We all have a box of secrets. We place all of the most intimate and esoteric parts of our lives into this box. We hold the keys to this box and no one will ever receive it. The box contains the most hidden parts of our personal makeup. The very essence of our being lies within this box. We guard it and cherish it. We labor not to allow anyone near it and most definitely not to ever glance into it. The contents of this box are made up of both evil and good. We are quick to place within it our failures and yet we also place within it our accomplishment. We shelter it from the ugly peers of those who would try to access the box with undeniable, scornful jealousy. And we protect it, with some measure of uncertainty, from the curious and yet seemingly truly compassionate friend.
There are many items within the box. Although we have placed many of the items in it, we still do not fully know what it contains, even though we search it through and through. Some have allowed others the chance to peer into the box, and soon they found that they became subject to them emotionally, fearing that the items contained within would be shared with those who were forbidden to ever see them. This box is the source of who we are and what we become.
This box has a name. It is called the ‘Heart.’ There are differing characteristics that give evidence to the fact that everyone has a heart. The most obvious is that you are reading this post.
The amazing reality is that our outward actions come from an inward influence. That inward influence is comprised of the contents laden within the heart. Our external affairs are only the reflection of various mirrors that line the walls of the heart. We experience varying emotions based on how we relate to circumstances within ourselves. Our thoughts are a result of our heart, our passions grow out of our heart, our understanding, our hopes, our dreams and everything else that is a part of our life is directly connected to the heart.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
In this passage we find the harsh reality of what our hearts produce when left up to simple, finite humanity to control. God was not pleased with men and what had become of mankind. This verse gives us a chronological view of what the contents of the heart produce.
First - The heart creates thoughts. Our thoughts can be defined as mental activity, meditation, reflection, recollection and considerations. But the fact is that our thoughts must come from somewhere and are the product of some source. This source is the heart. Now how do we know what is in our hearts? We don’t really know the fullness of what is in our heart.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Second – Thoughts provoke imaginations. Imaginations can also be referred to as images. We relate through the medium of images. The example of a learning child gives evidence to that. When we get ready to teach little Johnny and Suzie to learn their ABC’s we show them pictures and images pertaining to each letter. A stands for Apple, B stands for Boy and so on. This then produces a dependency in our mind for images. When you hear the word elephant hopefully you do not think of a tree. After we have images in our mind we desire for there to be a realization of those images. First we see a picture of the elephant and now we want to visit the zoo to “really” see an elephant. This brings us to the third point.
Thirdly – Imaginations create reality. The evil that we produce in our lives have their root within our hearts. And yet the good and precious things that we produce also stem from that same heart. Our hearts are the producers of who and what we are. That is why the Lord takes the heart and fills it with his spirit because he knows that from it flow out all the “…issues of life.” (Pro 4:23).
Often times we hide in our hearts the hurt the confusion and the worries of life. And we think that they will remain safe and sound and that no one will ever see them. And yet God is the one who controls the hearts of men and he knows all that we deal with. We may have a key to this box, but God holds the ‘Master’ key.
There is an answer to the question of whether or not we are able to produce good even though our hearts are filled with evil at times. The answer is YES you are able to produce good fruit and you are able to live in victory continuously. And this is how:
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
There are many items within the box. Although we have placed many of the items in it, we still do not fully know what it contains, even though we search it through and through. Some have allowed others the chance to peer into the box, and soon they found that they became subject to them emotionally, fearing that the items contained within would be shared with those who were forbidden to ever see them. This box is the source of who we are and what we become.
This box has a name. It is called the ‘Heart.’ There are differing characteristics that give evidence to the fact that everyone has a heart. The most obvious is that you are reading this post.
The amazing reality is that our outward actions come from an inward influence. That inward influence is comprised of the contents laden within the heart. Our external affairs are only the reflection of various mirrors that line the walls of the heart. We experience varying emotions based on how we relate to circumstances within ourselves. Our thoughts are a result of our heart, our passions grow out of our heart, our understanding, our hopes, our dreams and everything else that is a part of our life is directly connected to the heart.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
In this passage we find the harsh reality of what our hearts produce when left up to simple, finite humanity to control. God was not pleased with men and what had become of mankind. This verse gives us a chronological view of what the contents of the heart produce.
First - The heart creates thoughts. Our thoughts can be defined as mental activity, meditation, reflection, recollection and considerations. But the fact is that our thoughts must come from somewhere and are the product of some source. This source is the heart. Now how do we know what is in our hearts? We don’t really know the fullness of what is in our heart.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Second – Thoughts provoke imaginations. Imaginations can also be referred to as images. We relate through the medium of images. The example of a learning child gives evidence to that. When we get ready to teach little Johnny and Suzie to learn their ABC’s we show them pictures and images pertaining to each letter. A stands for Apple, B stands for Boy and so on. This then produces a dependency in our mind for images. When you hear the word elephant hopefully you do not think of a tree. After we have images in our mind we desire for there to be a realization of those images. First we see a picture of the elephant and now we want to visit the zoo to “really” see an elephant. This brings us to the third point.
Thirdly – Imaginations create reality. The evil that we produce in our lives have their root within our hearts. And yet the good and precious things that we produce also stem from that same heart. Our hearts are the producers of who and what we are. That is why the Lord takes the heart and fills it with his spirit because he knows that from it flow out all the “…issues of life.” (Pro 4:23).
Often times we hide in our hearts the hurt the confusion and the worries of life. And we think that they will remain safe and sound and that no one will ever see them. And yet God is the one who controls the hearts of men and he knows all that we deal with. We may have a key to this box, but God holds the ‘Master’ key.
There is an answer to the question of whether or not we are able to produce good even though our hearts are filled with evil at times. The answer is YES you are able to produce good fruit and you are able to live in victory continuously. And this is how:
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
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1 comment:
Thank you, this is exactly what I need to provide a demonstration for my Sunday school class. Hope you don't mind, God bless!
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