Westside Church of Christ

There has been a battle between good and evil since the beginning of time. No sooner had God completed His creation with the crowning achievement of humanity when the wicked one went to work. Sadly, he was successful. Chaos ensued. Murder struck the first family, and the downward slide was in high gear. The whole world suffered. Such is always the case with sin.

The impact of sin is experienced most deeply within the sinner. Hurt or hardening is the response. The pain David felt is emotionally communicated in Psalm 51 as he bore the unbearable weight of his sins. Peter wept bitterly when he denied the Lord for the third time. Sin sends shock waves deep into the hearts of those who take it seriously and fail.

For those who sidestep their conscience their hearts are hardened. We see the urgency of addressing it before the hardening process begins (Hebrews 3:13). Sin distorts thinking and develops a calloused attitude that renders people insensitive and indifferent. They miss out on the life that the Lord offers both now and in eternity (Ephesians 4:17-19).

The heart is where sin settles in to dictate the thoughts, words and deeds. It is also where the Lord’s eyes are focused. He looks where we cannot. We see actions but not the inner man. Everything about us finds their origins deep within. From roots to fruits. Make the tree good and the evidence will become obvious.

God is vitally interested in our hearts. The New Covenant bears witness to that (Hebrews 8:10), and that is where the message of Jesus probes. Peter addressed the Jews who had been hands-on instigators and participants in crucifying the Savior. The prophets had pointed to His coming, and they had missed it. If ever there was a group that seemed beyond redemption, they were it. Then came the historical words delivered by the former fisherman. Bullseye! It pierced them deeply and prompted the eternally important question (Acts 2:37).

The word of the Lord does that. It penetrates like no others. Some resist. Others respond. Few stick for the long haul. Both persecution and prosperity can defeat it, but those who receive it in a good heart produce a harvest of fruit (Mark 4:14-20). It depends on the condition of our hearts. No wonder heavenly eyes are fixed there.

Immediate action is demanded when our physical heart exhibits an irregularity. We seek a qualified cardiologist to diagnose and treat the problem. We don’t waste time because we know that it is a matter of life and death. Are we as sensitive to spiritual concerns? The beat of that heart is much more important. What kind of soil does the Sower’s seed find there? Is it producing a crop of good fruits? The great physician has given us His investigating word to help us determine our heart health. He is looking. Are we?