“The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?”
– Jeremiah 17:9
Our culture tells us from a very early age to follow our heart, trust our heart, and be true to our heart. From the videos we show our youngest children to the constant reinforcement on social media as adults, we have come to define truth based on what we feel. “You do you”. “Live your truth.” Our culture has defined morality entirely based on what pleases the heart. We have defined reality based on our emotional experience. And yet, our heart isn’t true to us! It’s lying! It’s sick!
Your heart lies to you. Sometimes your heart lies and tells you you’re much better, more justified, and more righteous than you really are. Sometimes your heart lies and tells you you’re much worse, worthless, and unlovable than you really are. These are all lies!
We must not “be true to our hearts” for they betray us regularly. We must be true to God and what He says about us. We must let His truth guide and redirect our hearts when they lies. When we’re apart from Christ, God is clear: He loves us, but we’ve separated ourselves from Him by sin and our heart impulses inevitably lead us to even more sin. When we’re in Christ, He is also clear: He loves us, forgives us, adopts us, and sees Christ’s righteousness in us, having given us the power to successfully resist sin.
Friends, don’t trust in your heart. Instead, trust in the Lord your God WITH all your heart!