A Perfect Heart

There is a wonderful verse in the 2nd Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. It is found in chapter 16, verse 9: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.”

I have often aspired to be one whose heart is perfect toward Him, but thought that it seemed like a very tall order to have a perfect heart; and yet, time and time again God has proven Himself strong in my behalf. I have learned, though, that being perfect in heart is not the same thing as being perfect in thought, word, and deed. No, it is simply this: believing the Lord, and trusting His Word.

Asa, king of Judah, was the man to whom these words were originally spoken. In the beginning of his reign, he did that which was right before God. He trusted the Lord for deliverance from a great army that came against Judah. He also removed the idols out of the land and encouraged the people to keep the commandments and laws of God. Later, however, when trouble arose again in the form of the king of Israel, Asa took treasures out of the Lord’s house to hire Syrian mercenaries rather than rely on God as he had before. This was the beginning of the end for Asa. The faith that he had placed in God in his earlier years was no longer evident in his life. He now trusted in other things to be his strength and help.

We must never lose the simple faith that we had in the beginning of our walk with God. It was then that we believed that anything was possible with God on our side. It was then that our heart was perfect with Him. Back when we were willing to say “yes” to God regardless of what it was He asked of us. It was then that we were ready to humble ourselves and allow Him to change us. We are reminded in Psalm 51 that God desires truth in the inward parts (our heart); and so, it is essential that we be honest with Him, and let Him search out our innermost intentions.

The eyes of the Lord are scanning the entire earth. He wants to show His might and power to those who are willing to trust Him, to those who will believe and act on His Word. St. John 1:11, 12 says, “He came to His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” We, as Christians, should always be in the process of becoming – becoming more like Jesus. This is only possible by believing and allowing Him to show Himself strong in us. It’s a total reliance on God – a childlike faith that looks to the Father to supply what I know I can’t do for myself. When my children were very young, they would fling themselves into my arms from what to them was a great height knowing that I would catch them and they wouldn’t be harmed. That’s the kind of faith that I want to always have in my heavenly Father.

We must remain soft and pliable in the hands of the Master Potter. We must allow Him to throw us on His wheel and poke, and prod, and mold, and make us into the vessel of honor that He intends for us to be. He does have a purpose for our life. He does have a vision of what we are to become. Never forget that it is a process, though. If we fall down, we get back up, and we throw ourselves on His mercy. We do have an Advocate, someone to approach the Father on our behalf. When we are willing to confess our sins to Him, His blood cleanses us from every one. So, trust Him, let your heart be perfect, and watch Him move in your behalf!

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. - 1 Chronicles 28:9