Do NOT Follow Your Heart

God tells us in Jeremiah 17:9-10 NET2, “The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it? I, the Lord, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” AND in John 3:16-18 we find Jesus’ words to His friend, Nicodemus, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John writes in Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Many over time have said to me, “You do not consider the feelings of others” which is really not surprising because I always have replied to them something like this, “But I am not ashamed because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day. Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:12b-13. I, like Paul, am not ashamed of who I am in Christ and encourage folks NOT to follow the feelings of my heart or theirs nor pay attention to the feelings of others if the heart and their feelings are in opposition to the Word of God. 

Eternity, where you will eventually end up depends upon your response to God Who does not look at your feelings, but rests His judgment concerning you upon whether or not you have decided to follow Jesus.

In John 14:1-4, Jesus is clear, “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. And you know the way where I am going.” Faith in Him alone is THE only path to Heaven, but you must trust only in Him. 

John’s inspired words from Revelation 20:11-15 concerning eternal life are instructive: “Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Following the feelings of others or even your own are not always in keeping with the Word of God. Oftentimes others have good intentions, but their feelings many times do not reflect the truth of God’s inspired words. Emotions are not the Word of God and reflect human traditions more than not. Therefore, when people point to the feelings of others they should be following God’s Word instead.

Why? For Jesus is Lord.

About Bob Williford

Conservative Southern Baptist pastor, missionary, and personal evangelist. An avid supporter of Texas Tech Athletics. Enjoy oil painting, writing and woodworking. My wife, children, and grandchildren are my joy. Reading and writing are great for relaxing......
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