PURE OF HEART

God is searching out a people who are pure and clean within, so that He can then manifest His glory and beauty to the world.  “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,” (II Chronicles 16:9).  The psalmist David understood this when he said, “Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts,”  and, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me,” (Psalm 51:6, 10).

 

After Saul had been rejected as king over Israel, God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse.  Jesse had eight Sons; and when Samuel had come down to Jesse’s house, Jesse had his oldest son, Eliab, come before Samuel.  When Samuel saw Eliab, he said to himself, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before me,”   The Lord spoke to Samuel, however, and said, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart,” (I Samuel 16:7).  It isn’t seniority, or stature, or good looks, or wealth, or education, or anything external that impresses God.  It is the condition of the heart.

 

After all of the seven oldest sons of Jesse had passed before Samuel and God had refused them all, Samuel asked if Jesse had any other sons.  Jesse mentioned that David, his youngest, was out keeping the sheep.  No one had thought it important to invite David to this event, because outwardly, he was so insignificant.  Surely he would not be considered for anything special by so notable a prophet as Samuel.  Yet, when David came forward, the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”

 

Inside their hearts, the older sons of Jesse were all concerned with other temporal things, but David was a man after God’s own heart.  David was full of the fear of God; but, moreover, he loved God and wanted what He wanted for his life.  He realized that the scripture was true that said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me,” (Psalm 66:18).  His greatest concern, therefore, was where he stood with his Maker inwardly.  Above all, David knew that God required “truth in the inward parts,” (Psalm 51:6).  In the fifth chapter of St. Luke, there is a story that relates this concept very dramatically.

 

“And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before Him.  And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.  And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, Man, thy sine are forgiven thee,” (Luke 5:18-20).  There is one thing that we notice about this account that stands out above everything else: these men had faith.  Great faith!  It wasn’t just the poor, sick man who had faith, but also his friends who carried him to Jesus.  How many folks today would go the second mile for a friend like these men did, even to the point of greatly inconveniencing themselves?  When they saw that the house was jam-packed, they could easily have said, “Well, there’s nothing more we can do; we might as well just go back home.”  They didn’t, however.  Their faith was moved, and they were willing to move obstacles in order for their faith to become realized.

 

The poor man who had the palsy could have told them to forget it, “It must not be the will of the Lord,” but he didn’t.  His faith was unmoved!  They broke up an area in the top of the house through which they could drop their sick friend, bed and all.  Down they lowered him into the crowded room, right in front of Jesus.

 

Can you imagine the people’s amazement at seeing a sick man lying on a couch, and coming down through the ceiling!  Jesus didn't only see their outrageous act, but He saw the faith that was stirring their hearts and motivating their actions!

 

“And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee,” (Luke 5:20).  It might seem like an unusual thing for Jesus to say.  It couldn’t have been more obvious what the man’s need was.  He was so sick that he had to be carried there.  Surely this was the most urgent need in the man’s life!  However, Jesus looked at things from a heavenly perspective, not as man would perceive things.  He saw deep down into the man’s heart to the need that took priority over every other need in his life.  Jesus saw a need that was most urgent and one that would determine the outcome of every other need.  The man needed a heart cleansing from some sin or sins that had him bound and until that work was done, there could be no outward healing.

 

This speaks to my heart.  There are often areas in our lives that we think God just must change, but it seems like He never does?  Perhaps there is a more urgent need in our heart that He is trying to deal with, and we won’t let Him.  Solomon, that wisest of all men, said, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” (Proverbs 4:23).  How we deal with every situation that life presents us with is determined by the purity – or impurity – of our heart.  It is amazing how quickly God can change unpleasant circumstances in our lives when we are willing to let Him change us inwardly first.  That’s how it worked for the man sick of the palsy. 

 

“And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins, but God alone?  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?” (Luke 5:21, 22).

 

Jesus, in His great wisdom, could see not only into the hearts of those that loved Him, but also into the hearts of those who didn’t.  Often during His ministry He would perceive the thoughts of men and rebuke them openly for what was in their heart.  Often, too, He would address not merely the questions that they asked of Him, but also the motives behind their questions.

 

It was, and is, God’s primary purpose to reveal the intentions that are deep within the human heart, and to cause man to consider the inward motivations for his actions. “What reason ye in your hearts?”   He is always directing us to take a painfully close look at exactly what is influencing the things that we say and do.  His Word is like a sharp scalpel that dissects the fine line between our thoughts and our intentions.  It is like a mirror of the soul that reveals our true nature in all its brutal honesty.

 

The scribes and the Pharisees took offense at Jesus’ words to the paralytic.  They themselves had strayed so far from the will of God, and their hearts were so full of envy, that they could not bear to see others being released from the same bondage of sin that they were still shackled to.  They could not abide the light of the Sinless One, for His very Presence brought conviction upon them.  It illuminated the areas of their lives that they wanted to keep hidden in darkness.  Their reaction was to find fault in some way and accuse Jesus of some wrong.  This way, they could transfer the guilt that they were feeling and turn the spotlight from themselves.  Jesus said to them, “What reason ye in your hearts?  Whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?” (Luke 5:22, 23).  Of course man sees things just backwards.  To heal a body seems much more difficult, and desirable, than to forgive sin.  However, the greater work is to unshackle a man and set him free from the horrible bondage that sin brings.  Do you know, though, that Jesus can do both?  He not only can forgive and cleanse us of our sin, but He can also change the circumstances that have kept us in misery, after He has dealt with the inward problem.  How many Christians go to God again and again and repent ha1f-heartedly, but never believe God for a change in their nature and in their spiritual walk?  Let me tell you: Christ has the power to change you within, causing you to overcome the sin that keeps you in spiritual bondage; but He also has the power to change your circumstances and give you abundant life!

 

Jesus said, “But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (He saith unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house, And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God,” (Luke 5:24, 25).  O, how we need to know that the Son of Man has power!  Power upon earth to forgive sin, purify our hearts, and change us into His likeness!  Power to deliver us from sin, power to heal our bodies, and power to change people and things around us as we yield ourselves to Him, and allow Him to change us!  Then we can glorify God, not just in word, but in deed and in truth.

 

“And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today,” (Luke 5:26).  Yes, when we allow God to have His way in our lives, it brings fear and amazement on those around us that see the work of God in us.  We, then, become a vessel through whom the Life of Christ is manifested.  Oh what glory!

 

Let us all be encouraged to really seek the Lord and to make this our earnest prayer: “Search me, oh God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” (Psalm 139:23).