A Broad Chest But Tiny Heart
Prophet (Dr) S. K. Abiara
It is a privilege to be in the service of the Lord. However, it is
imperative for us to fulfill the scriptural conditions that will
make our services acceptable, honouring and profitable.
It is abundantly evident in the Bible that most people God used to achieve great missions are the people with a large heart. God will not give you a mission without fully examining your heart. The battles of life are first fought and won in the heart before the physical manifestation. No wonder the Bible says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it flow the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23).
God charged man with the responsibility of keeping his heart. A man who cannot keep his heart for God and His services is not worthy to work for Him. There was a time in the Bible, Saul the first king of Israel, was rejected by God and a replacement was needed to take over from him. Samuel, the prophet, was led to the house of Jesse to anoint another king for Israel to replace Saul.
In the house of Jesse, there were grown-up sons with broad chests. The eldest son, Eliab, almost deceived Samuel with his broad chest. “And it came to pass, when they were come, that he 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 sees not as man sees; for man looked on the outward appearance, but the Lord looked on the heart.” (I Samuel 16:6-7).
While Samuel was looking at the chest of Eliab, God was looking beyond the chest. The chest in this context connotes the outward appearance. Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, fulfilled every condition required to be in the Army of Israel. He was actually enlisted in the army of Israel but he didn’t have what it takes to win battles for God.
In the same vein, today, many people work on their outward appearance neglecting the heart which is the hallmark of success. Although the chest is visible to man while the heart is visible to God, situations often reveal the condition of the size of the heart. Men look at the chest while God looks at the heart.
For instance, lack of courage sent Saul into hiding when he was to be enthroned as King of Israel. Many thought it was a sign of humility whereas it was a sign of timidity. When he was eventually enthroned as king of Israel, he got intimidated by the size of Goliath. This was a clear case of a man with a broad chest but a tiny heart.
“When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistines, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. And all the men of Israel , when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid” (I Samuel 17:11-24).
On the day of battle, the height, and good stature are not as important as the state of the heart. God is looking for people that can yield their entire heart to Him; those that the devil and his cohorts cannot intimidate.
The Israelite army went into hiding as a result of the big stature of Goliath, the Philistine. When David came into the scene, the whole situation changed. “And David was up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and went as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight and shouted for the battle.” (I Samuel 17:20).
Before this time, David was keeping the flocks of his father, while three of his eldest brothers were with Saul in the battle field. “David said unto Saul, let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (I Samuel 17:32).
David specifically told his people not to allow their heart to fail them because of the Philistine. He knew nothing could be made clean except by blood. “And sins cannot be forgiven without blood.” (Heb. 9:22). Under the law, the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a red heifer (Heb. 19:1-19) brought an external cleansing of the flesh. For example, under the law, if anyone touched something unclean such as a corpse, it made him unclean. Even if there was no sin involved, he was still considered ceremonially unclean and could not join in the worship until he underwent a ceremonial purification. Yet, this purification of the law did not go deep enough. It could not reach the conscience.
The blood of Christ gives the better cleansing we need because it is of eternal value. For once, Jesus entered into heaven’s holy place, presenting His own blood. Through His blood, He obtained eternal redemption for us. The price is now paid. By His death, Jesus took upon Himself, not only our sin, but also the wages of sin due to us.
“When people sin, they earn what sin pays – death. But God gives his people a free gift – life forever in Christ Jesus, our Lord.“ (Romans 6:23). Now, the covering of the blood is continually available. No other sacrifice will even be needed. Never again does a high priest need to enter by means of blood or by death. The power and efficacy of the blood of Jesus is seen in the eternal validity of the redemption He obtained by it. It is also seen by the deliverance and blessing that flow continually from Calvary’s atonement.
Thank God, these are always available without further sacrifices, rituals or any other formal acts or ceremonies. Anything we give to God or His work is out of gratitude for what He has already done. It is noteworthy that a sense of guilt drove men to offer sacrifices under the law. The works done as a result of guilt are dead works. God wants service given with joy and gladness out of a heart of love and a conscience cleansed by the blood of Christ; he through the eternal Spirit laid down His own spotless, unblemished life as a sacrifice on the cross. It is all-important to understand that rather than mourning the excrucrating pain Jesus suffered on the cross, we rejoice. His death was for the redemption from the transgressions that were committed under the first testament.
The result is that all that are called receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Men were not redeemed with corrupt things such as gold and silver but by His precious blood. The joy that man was fully redeemed from the bondage of the law, the power of sin, the present evil world and all manners of evil concupiscence is worthy of celebration.
The worshippers under the Old Testament did not come into the presence of God; they stayed outside the unrent veil. Now, the veil is rent and we have unlimited access to God by His blood. He always sees us in His presence according to the efficacy of Christ’s perfect sacrifce. The Bible says: “The son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins. And through Christ, God was happy to bring all things back to Himself again – things on earth and things in heaven. God made peace by using Christ’s blood on the cross.” (Col. 1:14 & 20).
It is therefore my candid appeal to all and sundry to appreciate the wonderful kindness of God towards man by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and renewing your love in God through him. Christ can do this forever, because he always loves us and is ready to help people when they come before God. (Heb. 7:25).
God bless you. For prayer & counselling, call 0803 321 9077; 0803 392 5888 or e-mail: skabiaraofciem@yahoo.com; skabiaraofcacewo@yahoo.co.uk.
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