This morning, while delving into my Bible, I began to ponder the heart—a magnificent organ that embodies the essence of life itself. The rhythmic beating of the heart encapsulates our very being; when it stops and falls silent, we are starkly confronted with the delicate nature of our existence. Through my journey—both in the military and as a volunteer with an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency—I have administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to countless individuals, facing the stark reality of a lifeless body when the heart no longer beats. If you have ever stood before a still figure in a casket during a funeral, you too understand the heavy burden of that unsettling truth.

Beyond the physical, there is a moral and spiritual sense to the word “heart.” This is what people often refer to when they tell someone, “Follow your heart!” I come across this phrase often on social media. Not sure what to do in the future for employment, college, or a career path? Just “follow your heart” our culture here in America says. Not sure about that relationship? “Follow your heart!”

Pursuing our hearts and using it as a compass to guide our decisions will often lead us into dangerous waters. The breakdown of marriages often stems from a spouse’s decision to prioritize personal desires over familial responsibilities. Extramarital affairs often arise when one partner chooses to “follow their heart,” leading to the disintegration of homes, the fracturing of families, and leaving children vulnerable in the wake of a parent’s self-serving choices. This shift in focus towards one’s own gratification can overshadow the needs of the spouse, the well-being of the children, and the stability of the home.

But please, don’t just take my word for it. As with other posts you read or have already read on this site, it is crucial to examine what Scripture says. Regarding the heart, what does God say?

According to the Bible, the heart is the center not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. “Heart” and “soul” are often used interchangeably, but this is not generally the case.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 tells us, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can know it? ‘I, Yahweh, search the heart; I test the inmost being, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his deeds.’”

Matthew in his gospel writes, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false witness, slanders.”

Mark 7:21-23 says, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. ‘All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.’”

Proverbs 28:26 tells us, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will escape.”

Lastly, Titus 1:15 says, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”

We absolutely must question our hearts. Trusting our hearts is a dangerous illusion. If the heart is indeed deceitful, as God’s Word warns us, then it cannot be a reliable moral compass or guide for our decisions. This so-called “heart,” which is supposed to be the epicenter of our spiritual existence and the driving force behind all human actions, is nothing but a playground for our inherent sin nature. It’s time to confront the uncomfortable truth: our hearts are tainted, and chasing them blindly will lead us astray.

While the inherent sin nature plaguing humanity from birth corrupts our hearts and will inevitably, without the intervention of Christ, drag us into a pit of moral decay and spiritual death, a glimmer of hope shines through. Paul, in his unapologetic letter to the Romans, boldly declares, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation.” The outcome of this radical shift is what Paul passionately articulates to the Philippians: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Ezekiel writes, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Upon receiving the free gift of salvation and the indwelling of God’s Spirit, an individual undergoes regeneration. This transformation signifies their passage from spiritual death to spiritual life. Earlier, I referenced the lifeless body resting in a casket; before accepting Christ, the believer’s heart, or soul, is similarly devoid of life as the aforementioned corpse. They are spiritually dead. Yet, when they place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, a profound exchange occurs. Paul addresses the Christians in Corinth, stating, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

That signifies our enduring hope in Christ Jesus. It is my hope, and, because of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, it can also be your hope. Do you find yourself exhausted by the pursuit of your own desires, only to discover that they lead to unfruitful paths? Are you weary of placing your trust in something that has consistently proven to be unreliable since the beginning? I urge you to place your faith and trust in Jesus, today.

Guard your heart with all diligence, 
For from it flow the springs of life.

 Legacy Standard Bible (Three Sixteen Publishing, 2022), Pr 4:23.