Always remember, God examines the heart. Often time others and even ourselves judge the things that we have done with unforgiveness. We must not forget that God forgives us and that He is examining our hearts. I always ask others when judging the things that I do or have done, did you help me? Did you do anything to keep me on the right path, or did you watch and not offer another alternative? It is easy to point the finger at a person to tell them how unworthy they are. Just take the time to look at your hand while you are pointing; there are three fingers ( on your hand) pointing right back at you. God can take me straight to heaven with the faults you are looking at because of my heart, yet send you directly to hell due to yours.
Did you watch the movie Passion of Christ? Do you remember the part when it was two others hanging on the Cross with Jesus? Let's focus on the thief (Dismas), The Penitent Thief, also known as the Good Thief, Grateful Thief, or the Thief on the Cross. Well, here is the story.
Luke 23:32-43 that describes the conversation between Christ and the two criminals crucified alongside of him.
The first criminal mentioned mocked Christ, “Save yourself and us!” (23:29). The other criminal, of whom we are writing, defended Jesus in a humble manner, acknowledging the justice of God and the innocence of Christ. His response to the mocker was,
Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.
Then he pleaded with Jesus to “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This desperate and humble cry for mercy is all that God needed to welcome him into the family of God.
Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
A man who presumably led his entire life in opposition to God, by the great mercies of God, was able to be saved in his dying moments.
Jeremiah 17:10
“I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.
Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
1 Samuel 16:7b
"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
" God is looking at my heart." - Alston Shropshire
