According to science fiction writer Cory Doctorow, “It’s the stupid questions that have some of the most surprising and interesting answers. Most people never think to ask the stupid questions.” Well, I did!
It should be obvious what the heart is, not even worth asking about. I understand what people mean when they talk about their hearts; they’re referring to their emotions. But is that what the Bible means by that word?
Let’s take a look at an example from Paul’s letter to the the Roman church.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” – Romans 10:9-10
In this passage, Paul informs us that the heart is the agency of faith for salvation. As we open our mouths to confess the Lordship of Jesus, so we use our hearts to believe in Him as the Resurrected One.
I know what my mouth is, but again, what’s my heart?
An email I recently received from motivational speaker and business consultant Simon Sinek offers a clue. According to him, “The mind can be convinced, but the heart must be won.” Sinek contrasts mind and heart; from his perspective, they’re opposites. Does the heart refer to the wellspring of our emotions, that which lies deeper than our thoughts?
Sinek gets us on the right track if we don’t draw too harsh a distinction between mind and heart. After all, our minds are capable of pondering our feelings; likewise, our hearts can process reasons and ideas.
Perhaps the term “heart” signifies our desires. Some people are more expressive than others; some people feel more than others, they’re guided–even controlled-by their emotions. But everyone has desires and interests.
Yet the intensity and duration of our desires vary. Some of our passions fade with time; later on, we may even wonder why we liked something when now we could care less about it. Other desires endure. They become part of us; they form part of our self-understanding. In matters of the heart, I would emphasize those wants which last, not the passing feelings that evaporate without notice.
Let’s take this a step further. If our feelings serve as the doorway to our heart, our desires function as its hallway. When we walk through it, in time we find what we’re looking for, what’s worth our search. In this light, the heart refers to our deepest and most significant desires; in other words, our values.
Like the mouth, the heart is an instrument, a means of self-expression. As we use our mouth to communicate our words (and what we think through our words), so we employ our heart to convey our desires and values.
Does the Bible support this contention? Let’s revisit the passage in Romans 10.
Writing about salvation, Paul prioritizes Jesus as the resurrected Lord. While we recognize this declaration as the core of the gospel, we should reflect on what the apostle is getting at. Two features stand out.
First, Jesus is Lord. In Paul’s context, the title “Lord” meant supreme ruler. The Roman government called Caesar “Lord” because he held the supreme office in the Empire; no one outranked him. But the Scriptures ascribed this title to God. The Jews declared that God alone was the Ruler of heaven and earth. No one, not even Caesar, eclipsed Him.
Consider God’s authority over the world’s power brokers.
“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.” – Proverbs 21:1 (NLT)
“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” – Isaiah 40:15
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” – Romans 13:1
Power is an earthly reality. But those who control economies, run governments, or oversee armies are themselves ruled by the God who is Lord over everything. And Paul ascribes this title to Christ our Savior.
Jesus is Lord.
But how do we know this fact? His resurrection establishes it.
The second point in Romans 10:9-10 is that Christ is risen from the dead. Everyone, even the most powerful rulers of this realm, face death. No matter how grandiose their plans, their reign will come to an end. But by the resurrection, God has vindicated Jesus as His Son and has installed Him as the Lord. His rule has no end.
“Who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 1:4
The exalted status of the risen Lord that Jesus enjoys illuminates our understanding of what the Bible means by the word “heart.” Salvation consists of Christ ruling our hearts; He resides as the chief value of our lives. Everything we think, say, or do comes under His governance. We orient ourselves around His supremacy.
What is the heart? It’s not such a foolish question, is it? In reality, making the inquiry gives us the chance to explore the depth of our saving relationship with Jesus. And in doing so, we trace the meaning of “heart” from feelings to desires to values.
To accept Jesus as Lord means to give Him first place in your life. And from then on, He purifies and organizes our commitments, interests, and emotions so that they coalesce around Him.
If you haven’t already done so, give your heart to Jesus. He alone deserves to be the Ruler of your life. And through Him, you can protect your heart from all threats and challenges that this world offers.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23
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