The Danger of a Divided Heart

There is a common form of encouragement that flows around secular cultures, possibly even Christian cultures, with instruction to follow one's heart. This would be very good advice, if the heart of man was not deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). What then are we to do with this advice? Jesus here speaks of the pure in heart being the ones who are able to see God Himself. What does this purity mean? It cannot mean without sin, as all have sinned (Romans 3:23).

Pure points to something that's not divided, something of one singular substance. Think of the rich young ruler, who Jesus tells the man to sell his possessions to follow Him. The man walked away sad because he had great possessions, knowing that he would have to choose between one or the other. Pure in heart is not speaking only of being morally pure, but an undivided devotion, allowing you to see clearly the things of God and the eternal satisfaction he provides. When we hold onto other things our view of God will be clouded, but when we set all things aside, we will see the Lord.

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In Christ,

Josh Hernandez