Hearts are amazing organs. Have you ever thought about the seemingly endless list of attributes ascribed to the heart? A heart can be good, kind, big, evil, broken, mended, pure, understanding, cheerful, and loving. We can even be heavy- or light-hearted. In another sense we are led to either righteous or evil acts according to the way our heart is “set,” e. g. we can commit adultery in it, we can covet in it; or it can be turned by outside influences; it can even be looked upon by some and trained by others. It really is a unique organ. Yet when we look at it physically it is only a little bigger than one’s fist; it can neither see nor hear. It is incapable of thinking even though many of the attributes ascribed to it would assume it has that capability. Most of the listed attributes above, however, ascribe to it the ability to experience deep and profound emotion.
When we try to understand the origin of these attributes it is not hard to figure it out. Most emotions whether warm and positive or those that cause fear and trembling, immediately affect the heart. Emotions are manifest through a faster heart rate along with deeper and more frequent breathing. Extreme emotions may cause health problems and even death because the heart may not be able to handle the stress being placed on it.
All through the scriptures, references are made to the heart. I remember being especially impressed when I first read in the book of Samuel, how Samuel the prophet was asked to anoint a new King over Israel because Saul had lost favor in the sight of the Lord. He was instructed to go to the House of Jesse and anoint a king from among his several sons. One handsome son caught Samuel’s eye; he thought surely the Lord would choose this one, (Sam 16:7) “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
In this society where beauty has become so important, outward appearances often trip us up. When I was a young man I remember seeing a movie titled, “Dorian Gray.” It was a story about a young, handsome, but morally corrupt Dorian Gray, who had his portrait painted. As the years passed by, he did not physically age, but evidence of his sins became apparent in his portrait; which grew uglier with each transgression. He kept the portrait safely hidden in the attic, looking at it from time to time to see how hideous he had become.
However, his behavior, along with his ageless appearance, begins to attract suspicion. It was only after his death that the painting received open scrutiny and the true character of the master was exposed.
We must train ourselves to look upon the heart and place less value on outward appearance. There are several scriptures that refer to hearts being turned away from the Lord, such as the one found in the Old Testament regarding Solomon’s idolatry, (1 Kings 11:2)
“And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice.” Other scriptures refer to the importance of turning our hearts toward the Lord; also, those of us who are the seed of Abraham have direct instructions from the Lord to turn our hearts and the hearts of our children toward our Fathers. There is a specific warning from the Lord that if we fail to turn our hearts, this world will be wasted. Why wasted? Because His work for this world will not be accomplished which is to bring to pass the Immortality and Eternal life of all men whether living or dead. His work is brought to pass through us—only after our hearts have been turned to our fathers are we willing to do His work.