GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART

 God does not see as man sees

People say, "But I am not a bad person! I follow the law of the land! I do everything I am told to do!" We are living in the last days. We should have a sense of urgency; Jesus Christ is coming back soon. No one knows the day nor the hour.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 tells us not to be naive, the times ahead are difficult. You should know this, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

People have become masters at external appearances. The world is full of smooth-talkers, who will tell you everything you want to hear. They will behave the way society expects them to behave; outwardly. They will do all the right actions. Such people are across all professions, across all societal classes - from low to high class. They are found everywhere. Without God's help, we can easily get blinded. We may start looking up to such people and admire their lifestyle; those people who seem to know what to say in every circumstance. They seem to have mastered themselves, they have mastered the art of interacting with others, they have mastered business. We live in a world where there is free flow of information, and we can easily confuse what is true from what is false. Everything seems so closely related. Without discernment, we can easily fall into the trap of the enemy.

When Samuel went to Jesse's house to anoint the future king, the men brought to him were those of good stature. He looked at Eliab, Jesse's son, and thought because of his appearance, he must be the one.

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7.

Appearances are very deceiving. Anyone can put on a show. Anyone can have many followers; they just have to give people what they want. People will like us as long as we are giving them what they want, as long as we update appealing statuses on social media; as long as we go along with them. Usually, people do not outwardly reveal their motives; they do not want others to see them for who they really are. We should not put ourselves in vulnerable situations. Most people will never understand us, and even those who do try might go telling everyone else about us. Only very few will pray for us. We should do a heart check in God's presence. We take everything to God in prayer.

It is amazing the things people do to get some attention. People say and do all sorts of things. It has become a lying world whereby it is hard to know who is honest and who is not. People have mastered the art of talking, the art of getting their way, the art of deception, and the art of moving the crowd. There are many outright lies, many near-truths, and many attempts to show care when in reality many people are after their own interests. There are those hiding in church, those looking for all sorts of ways to appease their congregation; those in church with all sorts of motives. It is a chaotic world.

Yet, in all these things, we know one thing to be true; God looks at the heart. He knows all our thoughts, He knows all we have ever done; He knows everything. God knows our motives; that is what He looks at. Externally, we can portray a different image, we can be a people's person, loved by the crowd, and we can get others to be on our side and support us. Yet, when all is said and done, we will be judged individually.

Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers!" Matthew 7:23.

Why do we say what we say? Why do we do what we do? Is it for ourselves? Is it to become famous? Is it to please other people? Is it to get praise, acceptance, and validation from others? OR, is it to please God. Are we all talk and no action? Do we do what the Word of God says?

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Then the rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25.

On which foundation are our lives built on? Is it on sand - like the pleasures of the world and people pleasing? That is a shaky foundation that cannot stand. Hearing God's Word and not doing it means we are on shaky foundation. Doing God's Word, that is wisdom. The ways of the world may be appealing at first but nothing good comes out of it.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

In this world where people have mastered the art of camouflage, the Bible tells us that we shall know them by their fruit; it becomes very obvious when we are led by the Holy Spirit. Spending time with God matures us spiritually, and with time we start bearing and manifesting the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The old passes away and we embrace the new. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. God changes us when we allow Him to. When we allow Him to search our hearts and cleanse us, He does so.

Then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways - whose heart You know, for You alone know the heart of all sons of men. 1 Kings 8:39.

God cannot be mocked; what we sow, we reap in return.

Blessings.

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