What Does God Look For In Our Heart?

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What Does God look for in our heart?

=20

How does God give everyone from the beginning of time an equal opportunity =
to be
saved?

The scriptures teach us God wants everyone to be saved ( 1 Tim 2:4
<http://biblehub.com/context/1_timothy/2-3.htm> ), and that he is Just (
Deuteronomy 32:4
<http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/32-4.htm> ); and shows no favoritism ( =
Romans
2:11
<http://biblehub.com/romans/2-11.htm> )=2E

Because God is Just and shows no favoritism He does not give anyone an =
advantage
over another when it comes to salvation.  Those born in a Godly home have =
no
more of an advantage to be saved than someone born in a remote part of the =
world
who has never heard the gospel.  Those born after Jesus death have no more =
of an
advantage to be saved than someone born before his death=2E

How does God give everyone an equal opportunity to be saved?  The answer =
lies in
the innermost part of our being ( Psalm 51:6
<http://biblehub.com/nasb/psalms/51-6.htm> )!

God enlightens everyone that comes into the world ( John 1:9
<http://biblehub.com/john/1-9.htm> ), He draws us to him first because we =
are
not able to come to him on our own ( John 6:44
<http://biblehub.com/john/6-44.htm> ).  If we accept his invitation he =
leads us
to salvation ( John 16:13
<http://biblehub.com/john/16-13.htm>
<http://biblehub.com/nasb/mark/4-20.htm> )!

What does God look for in our heart?

A wonderful example may be found with one of the two criminals who died =
with
Jesus on the cross. One criminal was invited to Paradise ( Luke 23:43
<http://biblehub.com/luke/23-43.htm> ) the other was not.  Why such =
different
outcomes?

Both criminals hurled abuse towards Jesus ( Mark 15:32
<http://biblehub.com/mark/15-32.htm> ), but one of them began to =
acknowledge him
as the Christ, pleading with Jesus to save himself and him!  Jesus saw the
motive of his heart and did not respond=2E

The other criminal who also hurled abuse towards Jesus began to reveal a
different motive so Jesus invited him to Paradise!

Let=92s take a closer look at what God uncovered in the heart of these two
criminals.  Their heart is revealed in eight statements; two by the =
criminal who
did not receive an invitation to Paradise and six by the criminal who was
invited ( Luke 23:39-43
<http://biblehub.com/context/luke/23-38.htm> ).=20

We should note the scriptures are clear man=92s heart is deceitful and
desperately wicked ( Jeremiah 17:9
<http://biblehub.com/jeremiah/17-9.htm> ) but it gives room for desire ( =
Acts
13:22
<http://biblehub.com/acts/13-22.htm> , Luke 18:13
<http://biblehub.com/luke/18-13.htm> , Joshua 24:15
<http://biblehub.com/joshua/24-15.htm> , Matt 13:15
<http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-15.htm> )=2E

Statement #1 =93Are you not the Christ=94?  (Uninvited Criminal)
His reference to Jesus as the Christ is more of a political statement in an
effort to solicit a favor rather than be in awe of who Jesus is=2E

 Statement #2 =93Save yourself and us=94.  (Uninvited Criminal)
His earthly life is his primary interest and he doesn=92t see the need for =
Jesus
to die=2E

Statement #1 =93Do you not even fear God=94? (Invited criminal)
He begins with the fear of God!  How apropos considering the =93Fear of =
God=94
is the beginning of wisdom ( Psalms 111:10
<http://biblehub.com/psalms/111-10.htm> )=2E

Statement #2 =93Since you are under the same sentence of condemnation=94?
(Invited criminal)
He was ashamed when compared to Jesus who was equally being condemned=2E

Statement #3 =93and we indeed are suffering justly=94 (Invited criminal)
He acknowledged the consequences for his actions=2E

Statement #4 =93for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds=94 =
(Invited
criminal)
He took ownership of what he had done wrong (I am a sinner)=2E

Statement #5 =93but this man has done nothing wrong=94! (Invited criminal)
He confesses Jesus was innocent ( John 1:29
<http://biblehub.com/john/1-29.htm> )! Symbolizing the Lamb of God=2E

Statement #6 =93Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom=94! =
(Invited
criminal)
God=92s kingdom is where his will is ( Matt 6:10
<http://biblehub.com/matthew/6-10.htm> ).  He wanted God=92s will over his =
own!

Notice the similarity of Adam=92s heart with the criminal invited to =
Paradise=85

Adam feared God: =93I was afraid=94( Gen 3:10
<http://biblehub.com/genesis/3-10.htm> )!

Adam was ashamed: =93I was naked=94( Gen 3:10
<http://biblehub.com/genesis/3-10.htm> )!

Adam was aware of consequences: =93I hid myself=94( Gen 3:10
<http://biblehub.com/genesis/3-10.htm> )=2E

Adam took ownership of doing wrong: =93I ate=94( Gen 3:12
<http://biblehub.com/genesis/3-12.htm> )=2E

Adam was clothed by God with the skin of an animal (death). Symbolizing =
the Lamb
of God ( Gen 3:21
<http://biblehub.com/genesis/3-21.htm> )=2E

Adam was forced from the Garden ( Gen 3:24
<http://biblehub.com/genesis/3-24.htm> ) indicating his desire to stay in =
the
garden where God=92s will is=2E

The eternal destiny of both criminals were determined by what God revealed =
in
their heart.  Salvation for the criminal invited to Paradise was not =
dependent
upon him do anything except having a desire for God!  His desire =
encompassed the
fear of God, being ashamed, being aware of consequences, owning up to his
actions, confessing the Lamb of God and relinquishing his will for God=92s =
will=2E
 It was not his words alone that God cared about it was his motive! It is =
the
same motive he finds in the heart of the saved ( 1st Samuel 16:7
<http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/16-7.htm> ), ( Hebrews 4:12
<http://biblehub.com/hebrews/4-12.htm> ). God deals with man differently
throughout our history but what he looks for in our heart remains the =
same=2E

God sends his children into the world to spread the Gospel and be a light =
to
those who respond to his call! He searches the hearts of everyone ( 1 =
Chronicles
28:9
<http://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/28-9.htm> ) and knows those who are his (
Psalms 1:6
<http://biblehub.com/psalms/1-6.htm> ), ( 1 Cor 8:3
<http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/8-3.htm> ), ( John 10:14
<http://biblehub.com/psalms/1-6.htm> )=2E

We must understand someone=92s salvation does not originate from us it
originates from God and he takes the responsibility to see to it they are
reached ( Acts 10:30
<http://biblehub.com/context/acts/10-30.htm> ).  Even Jesus himself did =
not take
credit for bringing people to God ( John 6:39
<http://biblehub.com/john/6-39.htm> ), ( John 17:6
<http://biblehub.com/john/17-6.htm> ), ( John 5:19
<http://biblehub.com/john/5-19.htm> )=2E

God created us to have a relationship with him!  Even as sinners he has =
provided
a way we can still have that relationship through his son Jesus!  Everyone =
is
given the same freedom to respond to the call of God=2E

For those whom God uncovers this desire there is nothing that can separate =
us
from him.  The World, Satan and our Carnal nature are no match when in =
battle
with God ( Romans 8:38-39
<http://biblehub.com/context/romans/8-38.htm> )!

It is amazing to think God undertakes our salvation if we have a desire =
for him
and causes us to be what he wants us to be ( Ezekiel 36:26-28
<http://biblehub.com/context/ezekiel/36-26.htm> )!

Jesus said his sheep know his voice and they follow him ( John 10:27
<http://biblehub.com/john/10-27.htm> )!  There are times we will fail and =
we may
even go astray but our desire for God remains and we find our way back to =
him (
Luke 15:11-32
<http://biblehub.com/context/luke/15-11.htm> )!

As it is written; "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has =
imagined
the things that God has prepared for those who love him." ( 1 Cor 2:9
<http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/2-9.htm> )!

[email protected]




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