We are prone to be double-minded, some more than others, but this is a common failing of the human race. We get blown around by every wind that assails us during the course of a week.
Looking back, it is sometimes difficult to even find where we have been in our thoughts, or down what roads we have let our imaginations indulge themselves.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, says the Bible; and this of course refers to the inward person that we may call the 'soul' or the 'real me'.
It does not matter whether you think yourself religious or quite the atheist, you still refer to your sincerity and deepest considerations, your promises, assurances, emotional expressions, as coming from your 'heart'.
"I mean it with all my heart!", does not refer to the muscular pump soaked in blood lying in your chest. You are speaking of something much deeper and more profound. Ooh! and even 'spiritual' (dare I say it!).
For most of us, it seems at times that we have a heart and a heart within us: one that wishes to go the way of truth, and one that would sooner choose a different path. It appears, quite regularly, that a contest is taking place deep within; and at other times, a veritable battle of good versus evil is in progress.
For a Christian believer, no matter how long you may have followed Christ and sought to be all that he calls you to be, this is an experience that can become habitual. It is a paradox that can lead you to wonder just who you really are at times, especially as other 'believers' seem to live their lives just as they want, without ever getting their consciences disturbed.
The paradox is knowing that you want to do what is godly and right, but there remains another 'force' within you that is bent on doing wrong. You know that you belong to God since the moment you were born again of the Holy Spirit, but you cannot equate the two sides of your desires within your personal knowledge of God and what the Bible teaches.
Paul the apostle knew quite a bit about this conflict. He describes the nature of it in a very telling way. 'The good that I would do, I do not do; and the evil I would not do, I end up doing!'
He says, 'That which I do, I allow not: for what I would do, I do not do: but what I hate, I end up doing!'
He went on to admit that there was nothing good within him that was of himself, and that he really did want to do the right thing before God; but how to perform that righteous way of living he struggled to find.
He came to the conclusion that it was no longer him that either wanted to do wrong or entertain evil thoughts, but sin that dwelt inside him. He came to understand that there was indeed a great conflict within at times, a law, that when he would 'do good, evil was present with him'.
He stated clearly from his heart, from his innermost being, that he delighted in God's ways and loved the righteousness that comes from Christ; but he recognised a conflict within his mind that fought against him, seeking to drag him down and surrender to evil in whatever form it sought to manifest itself.
You can read this for yourself in the New Testament in Romans chapter 7:14-25.
David, the great king of Israel and beautiful song-writer also knew much of this personal battle. He wrote these amazing lines, 'Teach me Thy ways, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name.' (Psalm 86)
Without God's gracious help, David knew his own weakness and folly at times would be self-destructive unless God were his helper and sustainer.
'Teach me your ways', was a cry to God to help him to live the life, and walk the walk, in righteousness and truth. He recognised his tendencies to run the wrong way, to occupy his thoughts with unholy thinking, and to get caught up with things that could take him down a wrong street.
Then he said, 'Unite my heart to fear Thy name.' Oh what an appeal to the Lord this was. It was an admittance that his heart at times was most divided, as though he had two hearts battling each other.
As much as he might try and struggle in his own strength to overcome temptations and wrong thinking, he confesses readily that he did not possess the personal power to conquer the feelings and wrong desires that afflicted his righteous disposition. So he appealed to God to give him a single heart that was united to be everything that God wanted him to be.
"Without me," Jesus said, "you can do nothing."
If you have a true heart and love the Lord God, then get into his Word daily. It is a purifier of heart and soul, and is a transformer of thoughts and motives. You will never know its efficacy until you make it a daily habit.
Most Christians rarely pick up their Bibles, let alone read them once a week. How can they live a godly life in this evil world?
Well, they cannot, and all their dreams and thinking will be of the material things and the ungodly music and chatter of a world headed for hell. Their business and workplace will become their daily dose of personal sit-com and entertainment; and at the weekend they may get a couple of hours in church to make them feel they are still part of the deal to get their free ticket to heaven.
I just tell it like it is! I speak the truth as it really happens out there.
There may be some good hearts here who read this and come to a determination that they will change their lives and their lifestyles, and come back to God, learning to depend each day on His word, and seeking for a heart that is united to fear His name.
If that is you, then begin today, and commit yourself afresh to Christ Jesus. Live for him instead of for yourself and the demands of everyone else all around you.
Read two Psalms every day, and a single chapter from the New Testament, and I guarantee that within six months your life will be transformed by the Word, and others will notice that God is at work in you.
Of course, to most people, the thought of having to read three portions of the Bible every day is far too daunting and tiring. "How on earth would I find time to be doing that?" goes up the cry of the carnal hearts lost in their own darkness.
Well, there is the evidence of the double heart, or no heart at all. We will only have as much of God as we want.
Go to church Sunday and sing your meaningless songs just for the sake of it, and carry on being a carnal, unholy, pretentious 'Christian'. Before long you may not hear God calling you anymore, for he that hardens his heart to the preacher who tells what God is saying on earth, hardens his heart also to God.
'My Spirit will not always strive (plead, contend) with men and women.' Genesis 6:3
'See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven.' Hebrews 12:25
You can choose to dismiss me, or even sneer and mock, but 'Now I am an ambassador for Christ, as though God did beseech you through me: I pray you in Christ’s stead, get reconciled to God.' (2Corinthians 5:20)
I shall continue with this tomorrow
JGM 2022 Just telling it like it is
