A Pure Heart

Whenever one reads a book, looks things up on the internet, or watches TV the things that are said and done enter into the heart.  It is as though one is making a deposit into the bank, the heart bank.  When wholesome things are watched and God’s word is read, individuals are making a good spiritual deposit into their lives.  However, when it is something bad, it still goes in.  One absorbs the bad along with the good.  This is why the Bible says that followers of Christ must “renew [their] minds” (Romans 12:2).  If one fails at this, the individual will be overcome by the sin within their life.

            When placed in difficult situations, a withdrawal is made from the heart bank. Whatever has been deposited into the heart, whether good or bad, is what one is able to withdraw from the heart.  If bad or sinful things are what have been deposited, that is what can be withdrawn and that is the way one will respond under pressure.  My former youth pastor, now head pastor, used to tell a story in order to illustrate this idea more fully.  He told of a time when he was a young boy and his father made him and his brother a ramp for their bike.  One of their favorite maneuvers was to ride up the rap cross their arms, uncross them, and then ride back down.  One day, they were out riding the ramp and they decided to take a break and eat some Ho-Ho’s.  After eating some Ho-Ho’s, my pastor climbed back on his bike and got ready to ride the ramp.  He made it to the top and crossed his arms, but when he came down he was unable to uncross his arms before hitting the ramp.  His stomach came down full force onto his arms and Ho-Ho’s were spewed everywhere!  What was in him came out.  In this illustration, the ramp is like life; the Ho-Ho’s are an example of what was put in.  When the pressure was on, what was put in (Ho-Ho’s) came out.

            Whatever is stored in the heart will one day be made known by or through what is said, the way one thinks, or even an individual’s actions.  The Bible says that “out of the overflow of [the] heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).  If one desires good things to be their withdrawal or overflow then one must read and watch things that are in accordance with God’s word.  God gives us guidelines as to what His standards are in Philippians 4:8, he tells us that “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”  This verse is a list of qualities to think on and can be used as a canon for what to fill our hearts with.  If God’s word is read on a daily basis, it will not return void!  As a Christian, one must stay strong in commitments and convictions so that the heart is not made dirty or deceived.