“Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy
heart is not right in the sight of God”—Acts 8:31
For thy heart is not right in the sight of God—as I think
on these words, I can hear Amos as he says, “Prepare To Meet Thy God” (Amos
4:12) followed closely by the words of the Hebrew writer, “It is appointed unto
man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). My friends, we
simply must without undue delay get ready to die.
Is my heart right in the sight of God is a question each of
us should be asking ourselves quite often. In the sight of God have I been, am
I now sincere in my profession of faith and love for him (Heb. 2:1, 4:13-14,
Mk. 12:30). The thoughts of our hearts are not concealed from our God. He
searches our hearts and knows what is in them perfectly (Psalms 44:21, Heb.
4:12). Make no mistake about this, he knows all the secret thoughts, purposes,
intents and motives that dwell in the recesses of our hearts (1 Chron. 28:9,
Rom. 8:37). If at this moment our hearts have been set into order according to
God’s word, then we can truly cry out “I am ready’ (2 Tim. 4:6) and calmly with
joy look forward to that moment in time when we will be ushered out into the
presence of our Lord. On that day we will be set free. There will be no more
groaning, no more tears or heartaches, pain or sorrow on the day we go home to
be with the Lord. As we so often sing, “There’ll be no sadness, all will be
gladness, When we shall join that happy band”. If we are able to view
death in this manner why should it ever strike fear in our hearts (Phil.
1:21-23)?
I truly believe that when our hearts are right in the sight
of God it will give to our loved ones so much encouragement to live their lives
in a way that is pleasing to God and it will give to them a tremendous measure
of courage and consolation once we depart this earth to be with the Lord (1
Thess. 4:13-18). When we must leave our loved ones in the silent city of the
dead, if so far as the human eye can tell their hearts have been right in
the sight of God, we do not leave our faith and hope there as well. We carry
with us the full assurance that even though separated for a short while, there
will come the day when we will see them and never be separated again. That is
the faith and hope that will soothe the heartache and bind up the broken heart.
It will be sad indeed to die with a heart that is not right
in the sight of God. We may say that we believe, we may say that we have been
baptized but if we have not been sincere in our profession of faith in God,
then all will be lost. I wonder, will we right now, dare we cry out, “Search me
O God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts” (Psalms 139:23). Friends,
if we cannot, will not make that plea, then know assuredly that our hearts are
not right in the sight of God.
Is your heart right in the sight of God? If not, why not?
Charles Hicks
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