Jeremiah 17:9

Disney forgot to read the Bible . . .

Oct 06, 2024

I guess Disney forgot to read the Bible . . . and most — if not all — of the rest of the modern entertainment industry did too. It seems that no matter where we are or what we’re doing these days, we are constantly bombarded with the words “Follow your heart.” Even in some churches we find this sentiment.

STOP! HALT! THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL!

The Lord has warned us in Jeremiah 17:9 that trusting our hearts is a very bad idea!

The heart is deceitful above all things . . .

Yup. Mhm. Can definitely attest to this.

Many times we long to do something. It eats and eats away at us. We know that if we do this thing, go this place, attain this object, then we will finally be happy!

But once this desire is finally fulfilled, we find that we still aren’t satisfied . . .

Our heart is like the commercials on TV. It tells us that if we just get this or do that, we will be happy. But we never are. Our heart, just like those commercials, deceives us.

. . . and desperately wicked . . .

Hate to break it to you, but we each have a sinful human nature. And that nature most often manifests itself through desires in our hearts. We desire to do what is wrong. We covet what others have. We desire to do things that will draw us away from God.

And when we act on those desires, the wickedness of our hearts becomes wicked actions.

Be forewarned, following your heart often leads to sin!

. . . who can know it?

And you know what? We ourselves can’t even comprehend the wickedness and deceitfulness of our own hearts! Too often, we ourselves are deceived and led into wickedness by our own hearts!

And the world tells us to trust in and follow our hearts . . .

Trust me! Trust God! It is a very, very, very bad idea!

A Little Bit of Hope

You know, this verse is often quoted by itself. We know that our hearts are deceitful and wicked, and that we cannot know it. Or at least, that’s how we interpret the rhetorical question at the end.

I mean, it’s not a wrong interpretation.

But if we went on to read the next verse, we would find that the Bible answers the rhetorical question for us.

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
— Jeremiah 17:10

No, we don’t know our hearts, but the Lord does! This is why we should trust Him to guide us! He knows our hearts, and He also knows what is best for us. Let us trust Him to guide our paths.

So let me end by saying this: We need to stop following the saying, “Follow your hearts.”

Instead of that, let our motto be: “Follow the Lord.”

Trust me, it’s a much safer way to live.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

The world tells me that I should be following my heart. But Lord, I know that my own heart is deceitful and wicked. You are the only One I can trust to guide me. I place my actions in Your hands. Keep my heart, Lord, from leading me into evil. Instead, guide me in the way that is best for me, and in the way that will be honoring and glorifying to You.

It is in Your Son’s Name that I pray,

Amen.