Fall
1986
The Importance of the Intent of Our
Heart
Wade E Taylor
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"
Phil 2:6-8.
The Son of God, from eternity, had a position of equality
with God. But, He willingly set this equality aside, that
He might take on an identification with mankind in order to
pay the penalty for man's sin. It was through obedience and
suffering that He experientially entered into this position
as Saviour, though He could have come into it an easier way,
as it was rightfully His because of who He was, "...the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" Rev 13:8.
But, He submitted Himself to the disciplines and the testings
of life, that He might qualify through experience as well
as by His identity, as our Saviour. "Though He were a
Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered;
and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation
unto all them that obey him" Heb 5:8-9.
Jesus had settled this issue within His being, and His heart
was right toward God. Inwardly, He was determined to pay the
full price for the outworking of the will of God, though it
would cost Him His life. "For the Lord God will help
me; therefore shall I not be confounded: Therefore have I
set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed"
Isa 50:7.
Because of His obedience to the will of the Father, He humbled
Himself and became the Lamb of God upon Calvary's cross, and
then died in our stead, shedding His blood that our sin might
be cleansed. Because of this, the Father brought Him forth
in resurrection life and then exalted Him. "Wherefore,
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name: That at the name of Jesus, every knee
should bow...Phil 2:9-10. This name, "Jesus" (Matt
1:21), identifies Him forever with the redeemed for whom He
gave His life.
A parallel to this experience can be drawn from the life
of David. "And it came to pass, when they were come,
that he (Samuel) looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's
anointed is before Him. 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" 1 Samuel 16:6-7.
Samuel would have chosen the one who outwardly appeared
to meet every qualification. However, the Lord revealed a
different method of qualification: "THE INTENT OF THE
HEART". This principle is exemplified in God's rejection
of Eliab and in the selection of David for the throne of Israel.
Later, David was severely tested when Saul turned against
him; but under extreme pressure David chose the Lord and His
ways. His experience during this time of testing is recorded
in Psalm 27:1-4. "The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?...Though an host should encamp against
me, my heart shall not fear...One thing have I desired of
the Lord, that will I seek after..." God saw that David
would choose Him in the difficulties that he would face, and
later declared him to be "a man after His own heart"
1 Sam 13:14.
Another example of this principle is revealed in the choosing
of Jacob, a deceiver, over Esau. "Jacob have I loved,
but Esau have I hated" Rom 9:13. At first glance, this
Scripture seems to indicate that "divine approval"
is an arbitrary choice made by God. However, God's choice
is based upon a divine principle. Outwardly, it appears that
Esau should have been the right choice. He was the firstborn;
and when his father requested meat, he willingly went to get
it for him (Gen. 27:1-4). Jesus said that His meat was to
do the will of the Father (John 4:34).
Nevertheless, when under the pressure of intense hunger,
Esau despised the blessing of God and sold his birthright
to Jacob for a bowl of soup, a present, temporal satisfaction
(Gen. 25:29-33). Jesus faced this same test of hunger in the
wilderness, but refused to turn stones into bread, in order
to feed His hunger. "...man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"
Matt 4:4.
While Esau was seeking meat for his father, Jacob deceived
his father into imparting the blessing to him rather than
to his brother. But later, when Jacob was under intense pressure,
the true quality of his character came forth. Jacob had fled
from Esau and was now returning home with all of his possessions.
In Genesis 32:6-8 he was told that everything that he owned
was in jeopardy, as Esau was coming with 400 men towards him.
Then Jacob humbled his heart before the Lord and asked for
His help (Gen 32:9-12).
"And he took them and sent them over the brook, and
sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there
wrestled a man with him until the braking of the day"
Gen 32:23-24. He sent all of his possessions toward Esau in
two separate companies, and then remained alone to see what
would happen when the first group came to Esau. His plan was
that if Esau destroyed the first group, he could take the
second group and escape.
Then, an angel came and wrestled with, or detained him during
this time of extreme stress (Gen. 32:24-26). Jacob could have
thrust off the angel in order to leave and protect his possessions,
but he did not do this. Instead, he detained the angel until
he received a blessing from the Lord.
Because Jacob's heart was set toward the Lord, he put the
Lord first when under intense pressure. Therefore, he was
changed by the Lord. "And He (The Lord) said unto him,
what is thy name? And he said, Jacob (deceiver). And He (The
Lord) said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men and
hath prevailed" Gen 32:27-28. Jacob received a change
of his nature, along with position and power. Esau, who had
sought rather to satisfy the present hunger of his stomach,
lost out.
God deals with us according to the INTENT OF OUR HEART.
That is, according to what we truly desire to be. The present
state or condition in which we find ourselves will be changed
by the Lord, if we truly put Him first and then trust Him.
"For the Lord God helps me, therefore I am not disgraced;
Therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that
I shall not be ashamed" Isa 50:7 NAS.