As if the heart and its desires cannot (and perhaps, should not) be controlled, often a statement is made to defend an unexpected or unjustifiable action, “Well, the heart wants what the heart wants, right?” Think about that claim. Think about what is behind such a claim. Think about where such a claim leads. What would happen if each person on this earth simply followed the inclinations of their hearts and did what felt right to them?
What would happen at traffic intersections if each person just followed the inclinations of their hearts? What would happen in schools if each person just followed the inclinations of their hearts? You get the idea. The philosophy that “The heart wants what the heart wants” leads to chaos and danger. There are standards and rules set in place for a reason!
The Old Testament era of the Judges was a dark time in the history of Israel. Do you know why? The book of Judges tells us twice, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6; 21:25). The people followed their hearts and it led to turmoil and sin.
The New Testament Christians suffered tremendous persecution at the hands of a man from Tarsus named Saul. Do you know why? That man himself later said, “I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:9). That man following his heart led to havoc and murder of God’s people (Acts 8:3; 9:1).
There are standards set in place (ex: at traffic intersections) for a reason. Even greater, there are laws set in place by the Creator of the universe, which must be obeyed (Matt. 7:21; Acts 10:35; Jas. 1:25). God has put all of His laws in place “for our good always” (Deut. 6:24), “that it may be well with you” in this life (Deut. 4:40; 5:16, 33; 6:3, 18; 12:28) and that you enter into “eternal life” (John 6:68; 1 John 2:21-29). Who are we to question God and choose to “follow our hearts” instead of Him?
But, for some reason, certain people think that their “thoughts” and their “ways” are as good as or better than God’s. How foolish! God describes His infinitely superior knowledge and understanding by stating, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). Oh, that we would trust Him!
Truly, “There is a way that seems right to a man” (i.e., it “feels right in my heart”), “but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). May God help us to “Keep [our] heart with all diligence” (Prov. 4:23), and not allow it to be drawn “far from” Him and His ways (Matt. 15:8). Let us diligently train our hearts to wants what God wants!