3 Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Follow My Heart

It’s clear that some of America’s greatest icons are sending their spectators a message.

“Trust your own instincts, go inside, follow your heart. Right from the start. Go ahead and stand up for what you believe in. As I’ve learned, that’s the path to happiness.”

“Follow your heart and make it your decision.”

“I’m here to spread a message of hope. Follow your heart. Don’t follow what you’ve been told you’re supposed to do.”

Do you hear it? It’s loud and clear: “Follow your heart.”

But what isn’t so evident is the deception behind this mantra. It’s sadly ironic that our culture grieves over the evils in this world while coaching our generation to ignore God’s truth and lean into the whispers of their sinful heart.

To “follow your heart” is to choose the broad path that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13) because, as Jeremiah stated clearly, the heart is deceitful and desperately sick (Jer. 17:9).

This is only one of many reasons why I don’t want to follow my heart. Here are three more.

1. My Heart is a Liar

You won’t see the phrase “My heart is liar” pasted on sparkly t-shirts or scripted onto a chalkboard. It surely isn’t an inspirational quote and does little to boost my confidence.

But it’s true.

To accept my heart’s messages as truth is to deny the ingrown evil plaguing it. And when I deny my nature of sin, I have no need for a Savior.

My heart is wicked and tells lies. It tells me that sin is right. That what is truly right is inconvenient. That I deserve better. That I am better. Instead of following my heart’s deceptive lead toward death, I want to learn to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Christ (Matt. 16:24).

2. My Heart Loves What God Doesn’t

When I sinned as a four-year-old, I didn’t thank my parents for disciplining me. When I stomped my foot or shoved a sibling, I didn’t instantly turn and hug my mom for pointing out my wrong. I didn’t say, “Dad, you’re right. I’m a sinner who’s rebelled. Thank you for showing me that.”

It sounds absurd, doesn’t it?

No one lives with the propensity to love what’s right and pure and good. We may yearn for holiness and spirituality as we mature, but we weren’t born with them. Even today, as a teenager growing in my faith and closer to God, I struggle with the lusts of my flesh. I prefer retaliation over Christ’s forgiveness. Anger over his kindness. And indulgence over his purity.

Like Paul said, nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing (Rom. 7:18-19).

My heart loves what God doesn’t. Therefore, to follow my heart is to walk away from what God cherishes, and away from God himself.

3. My Heart Can’t Save Me

It’s only possible to be a follower of one thing. Like Jesus said, No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matt. 6:24). And you can’t follow God and your heart.

The incarnation and death of Jesus for the world paints an accurate picture of the filth of our hearts. It took the perfect God in flesh upon a cross to create access between the holy Father and humanity. That’s how far off we were before Christ. The sin of our hearts lies in direct contrast to the glory and purity of God. Therefore, I can’t follow both him and my heart. I must choose one or the other.

And my choice is God.

It’s my desire—and I hope what will become yours too—to follow Christ and his Word (Heb. 4:12) until the fleshly fingers of my wicked heart loosen their grip and I’m completely devoted to chasing after him alone.

It’s saddening to see how our world today—even Christians within it—are being fed the lie that their heart can lead them to true happiness and salvation. It can’t. Don’t follow your heart. It’s desperately wicked. Follow the King of your heart who speaks truth, loves righteousness, and has snatched you from your sin-infested flesh because he loved you enough to die on a cross.

Don’t follow your heart. Follow the King of your heart.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4) …which come straight from his perfect and holy heart.

 

Quotations taken from BrainyQuote.com