For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21
I imagine the heart is a treasure chest where we store remnants of our experiences. A child may store his first memory verse or echoes of his parents’ violent arguments. A teen may store the coolness of a baptismal pool or the sting of first rejection. An adult may store her child’s giggles, the first handshake of gratitude, welts from an abuser, or comforting words from the Holy Spirit. We store our joys, heartaches, and regrets, even those times we spent weeping alone, then quickly wiping tears away before rejoining the party. By old age, our treasure chests are full.
Pure or wicked, the Lord sees the condition of our hearts. In his Sermon on the Mount, he declared:
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
Christ advises us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Nevertheless, people spend their entire lives building wealth and seeking man’s approval. Inwardly, though, they suffer.
Putting on a strong front in public, we have learned to conceal deep pain and anguish. Forcing ourselves to behave, we really want to scream, “Help me!” to anyone who will listen. With experience, we have become skilled at hiding stored-up bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. Our secrets are hidden, but God searches the heart.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24
There is no one good but God.
Most people spend their lives trying to be good. Despite their best efforts, their speech and conduct expose what is in their hearts. We make excuses when our true nature spills out, don’t we? For example, I have apologetically said, “That was not my intention.” But deep down in my heart, I knew it was.
There is no presumption of innocence.
We have been led to believe we are good people as long as we do not harm anyone. However, the Word of God says otherwise.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
We have also been taught that people are essentially good—that if we could just return to childhood innocence, the world would be a better place! Indeed, children are lovely. Parents know, however, that some of the cleverest manipulators in the world are under five years old.😁 Children need salvation, too!
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:4-5
Sinners since childhood, we will never be good enough in our own strength. But, my friends, Jesus Christ is more than enough.1 In other words, we are not innocent until proven guilty. We are guilty of sin and in desperate need of an advocate2 willing to die for us and a merciful judge willing to pardon us.
Unlock your hearts.
We store what matters in our hearts, and God knows our secrets.3 He sees our primary motivations, innermost desires, darkest thoughts, and greatest moments of joy, hope, and love. He sent his Son to redeem us because we cannot remedy our own heart conditions. What can we do? Repent of our sins and unlock the door. Jesus said:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20
Jesus offers rest to the weary and heavy-laden. He is near to the brokenhearted,4 and his shed blood cleanses us from unrighteousness. Only he can remove our stony hearts and give us hearts of flesh. And in those new hearts, we can store heavenly treasures.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11
Blessed are the pure in heart.
And so, men look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.5 There is no hiding from him. A wicked and broken heart cannot mend itself. Do not be dismayed: he loves us. We do not have to weep alone and put on a happy face not to be a burden. We do not have to grieve alone, suffer alone, or endure alone. God collects our tears6 and knows how we have suffered from childhood until now. Moreover, if we have stored up wickedness and malice, Jesus Christ made a way for forgiveness. Out of love, he laid down his life so that we could be saved, healed, and delivered—to the glory of the Father.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:1-10
2 Corinthians 12:9
1 John 2:1
Psalm 44:21
Psalm 34:18
1 Samuel 16:7
Psalm 56:8
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3
Thank God for the message. It was a blessing to me!!!
Great message!