Window
Evil actions are a mirror of an evil heart (Mark 7:21-23). The heart is deceitful above all things, exceedingly corrupt (Jeremiah 17:9). Therefore, we should guard the heart above all else (Proverbs 4:23) through praying and intentional submission to the Holy Spirit. An important aspect the Holy Spirit trains us regarding guarding the heart from the physical world, is to protect the physical senses of the body: what we see, hear, engage ourselves in. That is because the senses feed the heart. Taking an analogy of the heart as a room, then the senses are a window that connects it to the outside. The outside supplies either the light of the Lord or darkness of the world.
We cannot look at what is sinful or temptation-filled to no effect on our hearts’ godliness. In the psalmists’ desire for purity of heart, they considered wisdom the fact of setting their eyes away from worthless, shameful, sinful things (Psalm 101:2-3; Psalm 119:37). When one immerses their eyes in looking at what is sin-stained, the heart inevitably gets darkened by that sight. Our Lord stated that, for example, one must avoid lustfully looking at a woman because that is equivalent to polluting the heart with adultery (Matthew 5:27-28). The purity of the heart greatly depends on our discipline to intentionally not look at and watch things that will be detrimental to our relationship with God (Job 31:1).
"When one immerses their eyes in looking at what is sin-stained, the heart inevitably gets darkened by that sight."
Equally important, faith comes from hearing (Romans 10:17). Whatever or whoever has your ear has your faith. Everyone has faith in something. What or who someone listens to determines the fabric of their heart’s faith. It is impossible to be led by the voice of the Holy Spirit if our ears listen to sinful or temptation-filled worldly sources rather than God’s Word. The themes conveyed by the thoughts, songs, conversations, discussions we listen to become the stones that form the altars of our hearts.
This calls us believers to not expose ourselves to sins. It may not be an actual sin, but any path that leads to sin or lust that opens room for more evil in our hearts. Apostle Paul says that what is sin-stained should not even once be named among us (Ephesians 5:3). It is a call to discipline our body and direct our physical senses away from sinful impulses.
"The themes conveyed by the thoughts, songs, conversations, discussions we listen to become the stones that form the altars of our hearts."
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, I realize Your call to purify myself for Your glory through protecting my physical senses. I obtain Your grace to look at what glorifies You inside my heart, listen to what obeys and affirms Your Word, and flee from lust and evil desires. In Your Mighty Name, I pray. Amen.
