Hymns With A Message: IS THY HEART RIGHT WITH GOD?

Sunday, November 22, 2020

IS THY HEART RIGHT WITH GOD?

Medical checkups should be a normal part of our lives, especially as we grow older - blood pressure checks, various blood tests, PSA's, mammograms, stress tests, colonoscopies, and others should be part of our routine. But many fail to do these because they don't think they need them or are afraid of what they night show.

But sometimes these tests do reveal serious problems that we didn't know that we had. I was shocked when a routine stress test sent me to the hospital for five heart by-passes.

And such is the case with our spiritual condition. How often do we take the time to examine our relationship with the Lord and then make needed changes? How often do we ask if our heart is right with the Lord? While I was growing up it was common to sing hymns of consecration and invitation in most church services. Seldom does that happen in most churches today. In fact many believers don't even know many of these hymns anymore. But many of them, such as this week's choice, asked profound, key questions.

In today's society it often is too easy for people to say they are Christians or even think they are. They can use the right vocabulary, they can follow the traditions, they can attend services, they can give their offerings and they can often fill church positions. They could even be teachers, worship leaders or pastors. And yet their hearts might not be right with God. They can fool many, including themselves, but they can't fool God.

Although he was never trained in music, Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929) contributed more than 2000 gospel songs to various publications. Many of these were songs of consecration and invitation such as "I Must Tell Jesus." , "Are You Washed in the Blood," "What a Wonderful Savior" , "Is Your All on the Altar", and "Down at the Cross". Many of these, like this week's choice, challenged us to examine our life and walk with the Lord. They asked some very challenging questions for us to consider. Have your affections been nailed to the cross? Does Jesus rule in the temple within? Is all thy power under Jesus' control? Does he each moment abide in your soul? Is thy heart right with God? Such words should be a convicting challenge for every child of God.

Have you had a spiritual checkup lately? It is really more important than your regular medical checkup. As Hoffman asked many years ago, "Is thy heart right with God?"

1 Have thy affections been nailed to the cross?

Is thy heart right with God?

Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss?

Is thy heart right with God?

Is thy heart right with God,

Washed in the crimson flood,

Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,

Right in the sight of God?

2 Hast thou dominion o'er self and o'er sin?

Is thy heart right with God?

Over all evil without and within?

Is thy heart right with God?