HEARTS THAT ARE PERFECT TOWARD GOD
2 Chron. 16:9
Morning Meditation 5/8/16
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”
The words “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth” tell us that the Lord keeps himself completely informed concerning the things of earth. My grandmother used to go around singing “There is an all seeing eye watching you.” She convinced me. I was taught the truth of God’s Omniscience from a very early age and it has stuck with me through the years. This will keep us right with God, that is, if we have any fear of God.
There is a joke I like to tell. There was a robber that would watch houses and when the occupants left for vacation or some trip where they would be gone he would go in and steal their valuables. Well, he was watching this particular house. He saw them leave and could tell they would not be back for a while. He waited until dark and broke into their home. He entered and as he came into the living area a voice out of the dark came, “I see you and Jesus sees you to.” The thief froze in his tracks. He stood there in an immobile position. Then out of the pitch dark came this voice again, “I see you and Jesus sees you to.” The thief was absolutely terrified. He got up enough nerve to turn on his flash light and aim it toward the direction of the voice. When he did the light fell on a caged parrot. You can imagine his relief. He laughed with relief and walked over to the wall switch and flicked on the light. Still laughing at this ingenious method of scarring burglars off and having great pride in that he would show them that he was too smart to be fooled by such a trick, he clicked on the light. Then he looked back at the caged parrot. Then he again froze at what he saw. He saw a Doberman standing under the cage with shining teeth looking straight at him waiting on orders to pounce on him. Then he heard the parrot’s next words, “Attack, Jesus, attack!”
The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. There is nothing that he does not see. There is nothing that he does not record for the day of judgment. Romans 2:16, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” The Old Testament saints knew about this day. They knew God was watching and that there was a day that one much account to God. Even for the secret things. Things that you think you have gotten away with. Eccl. 11:9 says, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” Everyone says about the young person, the teenager, “let him sow his wild oats. Every young person has to have his fling.” Well, the wise man said, “Go ahead and do it. Have your good time at the expense of violating the declared will of God. But just remember this ‘God will bring thee into judgment.’” You see God’s eyes are running to and fro throughout the whole earth.
The words “to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” means that God is looking for someone he can bless and through whom he can bless others. Isn’t that amazing? God is actually looking for someone. They are evidently hard to find. Because most of what I see today is “word power” and “electronic showman ship.” Many of the churches have the glass pulpits where the “people can see the whole preacher.” You see you have to sell yourself before you can sell your product. This is the thinking. I know what I’m talking about. And I think, “Poor God. He has turned into a product.” He needs to have an attractive preacher who can sell him to the congregation. Now I’m not just trying to be mean. I’m just getting rid of some of my frustrations with the truth!
What God is looking for according to our text is not a handsome preacher in a $1,000 suit standing before a glass pulpit, it is someone “whose heart is perfect toward him.” What is a “perfect heart?” The Hebrew word for “perfect” is “shalem” means “complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, whole, full, at peace.” What is a perfect heart?
First, it is a repentant heart. Repentance is a thing of the mind and heart. The word “repent” in the Greek is “metanoeo.” and means “a change of mind.” It involves a change of mind about God, and sin, and man’s responsibility to God. In our text God watches and scans the earth and knows all that goes on. Repentance also has to do with the heart. It is not just a change of mental attitude toward God, but it is a change of heart. God is looking for someone with a “perfect heart” toward him.
Second, a perfect heart is a heart that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Man cannot make his heart right. It takes the blood of Christ to do that. Heb. 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,” We must bring our wicked hearts before God for cleansing: Jer. 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” God can know it and only the blood of Jesus can cleanse the heart.
Third, a perfect heart is a humble heart. This is a heart that has been conquered. We are not born with our hearts right. Our hearts have to be conquered. Isa. 57:15: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” A perfect heart is an humble heart.
Fourth, a perfect heart is one that is full of the Love of God: Rom. 5:5: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Every saved person starts out with the love of God in his heart. I have often seen a person come to the altar and receive Christ as his personal Saviour. Then hear the first words that come form his lips as he says, “I want my wife, child, mother, father, etc., to be saved. Before they were not interested in others. Now they have a sudden interest in seeing others escape the awful punishment of hell and be saved to enjoy the pleasures of heaven.
The secret of experiencing God’s strength is a heart matter. God is not looking for the half hearted. He is looking for some whose hearts are perfect toward him. We need to ask ourselves, “Is my heart perfect toward God?”
