God Looks on the Heart

It's rainy out today so I thought I'd choose blue font for my post. I know probably most of you don't even notice the font color but it usually is chosen for my mood or to go with the theme of the post or whatever. I maybe should have chose red for the font color because of the word heart.

In Sunday school today, the topic of God looks on the heart was mentioned and how the world view today uses the verse. It so often is used to say that no one has the right to judge someone on their appearance or even their actions. --In essence, it doesn't matter what I look like or how I live because God knows my heart. Well, I don't mean to sound unkind but doesn't that thought even remotely scare you if that is your attitude? God DOES look on the heart! He knows our thoughts, our actions, what's in our heart that drives those thoughts and actions. That should be pretty scary if you ask me. Here's the thing...what's in our heart reflects the outside. It reflects our words, our appearance and our actions. 

So you say, how I dress or wear my hair should not matter because God knows my heart. He knows I am a kind, compassionate or ___________you fill in the blank. Maybe so. However, God said let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. People can only see the outside. (at least at first, until they get to know you, after getting to know you, they can then decide no matter what's on the outside what is in your heart) but first impressions still exist.

So, we are not to judge someone based on appearance? Sorry, but that is just in the nature of most humans. Let me put it this way, if you are driving in a city and see a woman dressed scantily or provocatively on the street corner, what is your very first thought? Prostitute? You more than likely would be correct in your thought. Does that mean the woman is beyond salvation or the love of Jesus? No! But it DOES mean that they are involved in a life of sin according to God's Word. Are you wrong in your judgment of thinking that she is probably a prostitute? I say no. Because if the shoe fits wear it! She is for sale. She is dressed that way to let a man know that she is for sale. I say to ladies -- Don't advertise what you don't want noticed and to those to whom you have no business advertising it to. Save it for your own husband! 

Now, I will say that my first impression of someone based on appearance has been wrong many a times. For instance, when at a gas station or convenience store the men that seem to treat me the rudest have been the well dressed men. (those in suits or nice casual clothes) They are the ones who not only don't hold a door for me but have actually let it slam in my face. They are often not the ones to offer help when I am putting air in my tire or carrying something to my car. On the other hand, some of the ones doing the opposite have been those dressed roughly, or (forgive this judgment) been kinda scary looking with tattoos everywhere and wild hair. They have called me "Mam", held the door, been quick to help if I looked like I needed it. So, I know that first impression judgments based on appearance can leave your heart convicted but that doesn't change the fact that they are there. ----because I can't see their heart. I must make a judgment based on what I see. It isn't until later that I may see that they can be kind. 

God sees our self righteousness, our selfishness, our anger and hatred, our pettiness, etc. He sees it right there in our hearts even when we are good at hiding it on the outside from others. People cannot see right away. This should also be convicting in that no matter how we clean up the outside God sees the heart. 

It has been my experience that those who want to dress and look like they choose no matter God's standards or live in actions contrary to God's Word yet throw that verse around are justifying their rebellion to God. And, that's usually their attitude and tone of voice when quoting the verse!