Rev. A. J. Ogden

When we name the name of Christ, all eyes are upon us, and ears are tuned into what we say. When we profess to be a blood washed, born again child of God, people do have a right to watch us closely to see if we are real. I’m not saying they have the right to judge every word, deed or action we take, but they certainly can be fruit examiners! Matthew 7:20, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” When we truly come to know God, we will be more Godly.

Other people can know a lot about us by watching our lives, but God knows all about us because he sees our heart. Our hearts are transparent to God. It is almost frightening to know that God sees my heart night and day. He knows my thoughts, motives, ambitions and desires, more than I myself can know. We may put on a false front, fool a few people, fool the pastor, but we can’t fool the Master! My God sees me as I really am.

Look with me at First Samuel 16:7 ”…For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” How is your heart? We can have no happy spiritual health when we are harboring some known and unconfessed sin in our hearts.

Perhaps we need right this minute to pray like David did in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

There is no burden so heavy to carry as sin, no bondage so unnecessary to struggle under as sin. As God looks into your heart and mine right now, what does he see? If there is sin First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The next verse tells us that we certainly do have sin to confess. Verse 10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”