The heart of man

The Heart Of Man

 

There are four types of people in the world and only four. The large numbers of people in the world have a similar heart while many share the common characteristics of a second heart. The third heart is found by some and the fourth heart is possessed by few. Four hearts. Four types of people. One God.

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:18-23).

The first heart is the most popular heart of all. It is driven by the desires of man (1 John 2:16) and is not subject to the law of God (Romans 8:7). Hearts of the wayside are governed by internal wisdom where man is his own god and worships himself rather than the Creator (Romans 1:21-25). One of the reasons the wayside heart is desired by most people is because it is the most fun. There are no concerns for consequences nor accountability to anyone but self. This heart is filled with self-indulgence (Romans 1:26-31). Life is about the here and now and death is only a passing into oblivion.

Hearts from the stony ground have some hope to them but have no hope of surviving. The innate goodness of man glimmers for a moment in the joy of finding truth and embraces the notion that happiness can be found outside the putridity of the wayside. But the call of the wayside is strong and having little foundation to resist the wiles of the flesh fall back into the old habits. Truth was a blessing but when the opposition from others challenged the life style of the stony hearts, weakness overtook the mind and defeat comes. Living for truth requires standing for truth. With little underpinning lives fall apart and the heart that began with promise ends without hope.

The third heart has good ground and will produce a crop. There is great promise in this heart as the truth of God’s love enfolds the lives of these precious souls seeking redemption in the blood of Christ. Progress is seen daily in their lives as the heart fills with the mind of God. Sprouts of truth flourish in the rows of life and the bounty of harvest is but a time away. Yet in the flurry of activity is lost the most precious treasure of truth and “choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life” (Luke 8:14) the heart bears nothing. What began with promise ends in empty fields of wasted lives. Thorns are the painful reminder of a heart filled with the hollow call of the world.

Jesus said that only few will find eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14). This heart hears, understands and acts. In the rarified air of devotion this heart is unswerving in its obedience to the will of the Lord (Matthew 7:21-23). It is neither the most popular heart nor the easiest heart to possess (Luke 14:26-27; 1 Peter 4:12-16; 2 Timothy 3:12).