TEACHINGS FROM GOD | 04 | Reins and Heart
Reins and heart, thoughts and act; He sees them all
Welcome to Teachings from God, a section where I share lessons the Lord teaches me during my Bible Study. It is my prayer that as you read this, His Spirit illuminates the eyes of your understanding so that you know Christ more and more. If this is your first time on Bud and Blossom, feel free to check for older posts here.
In the course of Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry, he acquired many foes while standing and carrying out God’s assignment in Jerusalem and Judah. Jeremiah 11:18-22 gives more insight to the revelation the Lord gave him about those who sought his life.
And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause. - Jeremiah 11:18-20, KJV
In the midst of his utterance, Jeremiah speaks about the attribute of God as a Judge. Here, it is important to note how he describes the judgement of God, the evidence presented and the manner He examines it.
Earthly Judges
A judge is a person who has the authority to decide the questions of law, and pronounce the final decision on a subject matter, after series of cross-examinations and evidence have been presented to him and the audience. In a typical court setting, there is a plaintiff, defendant, jury and public who gather to watch the proceeds of the case at hand.
Often times, people hear the word “judgement” and ascribe a negative connotation to it. Yet, judgement in itself is neutral and dependent mostly on actions carried out by the parties involved, in accordance to laid-down rules or guidelines set by a specific system within a body, organization, state or country.
In this world, we have seen many kinds of judgement being meted out to individuals across various spheres of life. Unfortunately, some of these penalties have been unjust and influenced by elements such as personal bias, greed, human error, ignorance, improper investigations, to name a few. However, the topic of true justice is and can only be found and embodied in one person perfectly —The Godhead.
Deuteronomy 32:4 details the personality of God as perfect, true and without iniquity.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.From this Scripture, we can deduce that Yahweh is infallible and incorruptible, able to make forthright and impartial declarations to every man according to their works.
Divine Verdict: No One is Good
When Adam fell and lost the Spirit of God in him, he became sinful and carnal; death lived and ruled him. From that moment onwards, he (and the rest of mankind) lost fellowship with God and the capacity to do His will with ease; to be and live good.
This has led to series of evil acts in human history which first began with murder by Cain. In this story, we see how this killing was preceded and succeeded by deceitful talk and lies; elements that were absent when God made the earth in the beginning. Through the disobedience of man, sin was introduced to man’s nature, and has evolved to downward spiral of events that reflect the depravity of mankind, our wicked hearts and evil ways.
The book of Jeremiah captures this reality of every human in this verse uttered by Adonai Himself:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9, KJV
Jesus reiterated this in the Gospels when a man inquired about the requirements of eternal life. Though we are not told what transpired in the heart of His questioner, it is clear that Jesus Christ knew the man’s heart and tested its content by asking this question: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.”
The verdict is this: No human is good. None of us is good. Only God is.
Whether we accept it or not, God knows the true reasons behind our words and actions. This fact can either be unsettling or comforting for you; the realization that someone knows more than you know about your heart and self.
In addition, the word ‘reins”, which literally means kidneys, is a word used to suggest the seat of emotions and desires within a man. When Jeremiah spoke about God trying the reins and hearts of man, he implied that God sees the innermost part of every creature He fashioned, including believers and unbelievers. Our thoughts, flaws, weaknesses, internal wrestles and tendencies cannot be hidden from Him; even the secret crannies of our heart that harbour unspoken things, things we can never mutter to any human due to a fear of biased judgement, misunderstanding or prejudice.1
There is Hope
Howbeit we be in this flesh, there is hope for you and me!
Thanks be to God Almighty who has given us gift of His Son, and has provided the blood of Jesus, His Word and His Spirit as cleansing agents for the believer then and today. Out of mercy and love of the Father, Christ Jesus died and gave His life for all so that we can be restored to God and receive a new, pristine nature in us.
Justification is a gift that we must be eternally grateful for. It is the reality that Christ became the substitution for our sins and took upon Himself our iniquities, so that we can be free and cleansed unto the Holy One. Through the New Birth, He inputs on us His righteousness, such that The True Judge can look at us and say, “Little one, you are just, you are holy.”
Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to cautiously and consciously be on God’s altar and let Him purify us so that we can live out His righteousness daily. Sanctification is a life-long journey and a process that is dear to the Father’s heart and He is forever committed to ensuring that we are constantly purged in order to become more like Him.
Howbeit we were once sinners, Christ died for us and as such, we who have received and confessed this sacrifice have become righteous by His blood. Though our flesh may sometimes fail, His Spirit dwelling in us helps us to walk in His precepts and pursue His good-will for our lives and all mankind. As we continue to submit our hearts, acts and lives to Him, His Spirit will constantly encourage us to love as He does, to do as He did, and to be as He is.
May you constantly be cleansed by Him who is true and good. Amen.
*Further Readings: Proverbs 16:2, 21:2, Malachi 3:2-4, Romans 5, 8:1-16, Philippians 2:12-13.
Perhaps you are reading this and have passed judgement on yourself Perhaps you have condemned yourself for past and present mistakes Perhaps people have written you off and so have you Jesus beckons to you today
He wants you to accept His love and mercy He wants you to receive His righteousness He wants you to come into a place of acceptance He wants you to come into grace
A place where you believe and receive Him That you may be accepted in Him And be stripped off every human judgement Every weight of not being enough Every guilt of sin
He wants you to rest in Him He wants you to come in Only believe and speak this belief Receive Him and be healed