Following Your Heart

"Follow your heart."

How many times have you heard this trite and mystical expression in movies, tv programs and speeches, or even in person from a friend or relative? According to popular wisdom, when obstacles plague us, and we don't know where to turn for support, when the road of life snakes its path into a dark and whispering wood, we all just should "follow our hearts," which inevitably leads us to sunnier climes and greener pastures.

But is this true and good advice?

For the non-Christian, I suppose following one's heart is as sound as following one's nose, since he or she doesn't subscribe to the leading of our Lord. But for Christians (and by "Christians," I mean true followers of Christ) following one's heart leads to error and possible destruction.

Here's what the Bible says about the heart:

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.--Genesis 6:5

. . .for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;--Genesis 8:21

. . .and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:--Numbers 15:39

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.--Proverbs 3:5

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.--Proverbs 16:9

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.--Proverbs 19:3

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.--Proverbs 19:21

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.--Proverbs 24:2

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.--Proverbs 28:26

. . .the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.---Ecclesiastes 9:3

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:--Matthew 15:19

Scripture is full of other examples, but I think its meaning is clear. To be sure, the Bible speaks of the heart of humanity in a positive manner, as well; but only in the context of allowing God dominance over it. A heart without God's influence is a dangerous, corrupt, and misleading thing. There's a reason why Jesus said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.--Matthew 22:37

It's a part of a greater whole. Alone and without God as its captain, the heart is a doomed ship heading for a lurking reef.