Jeremiah 11:8
“Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.”
Israel’s biggest downfall was that they followed man’s logic and reasonings and not the voice of God. According to Jeremiah 8, from the time that Israel left the land of Egypt to the time of the writing of this chapter, Israel was a nation that oftentimes followed the “imagination of their evil heart.” This was magnified in Judges 21:25 when it says, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Yet, this dangerous response led to their eventual captivity and judgment of God.
People have not changed since this time. I find that Christians commonly follow the imaginations of their heart. You must understand that when your heart tells you to do something that goes against God’s will, you must listen to God’s voice and not your own heart or imagination. I believe in getting counsel from godly people, but nothing should ever surpass God speaking to your heart. Many people have stepped out of the will of God because they followed the imagination of their heart instead of following God’s will for their life. Let me give you some thoughts with this truth in mind.
First, God’s will may not always make sense. One of the reasons we follow our heart’s imagination is because it makes sense to us. Oftentimes, God’s will does not make sense. God’s will didn’t make sense when David faced Goliath. God’s will didn’t make sense when Abraham left his home land. God’s will didn’t make sense when Gideon sent home most of the armies of Israel. Just because something makes sense does not mean that it is God’s will. God’s will is not based on man’s logic; instead, it is based on God’s purpose for your life.
Second, human logic will always be tainted. One of the most dangerous things about following man’s imagination is that it comes from an “evil heart.” As good of intentions as man may have, his intentions still come from a heart that is filled with his own desires. People may have good intentions, but even the best of intentions are tainted with man’s selfishness. This is why you must not follow man’s logic, and you must follow God’s will.
Third, following human reasoning is dangerous because it changes with circumstances. You must understand that Israel spiritualized their actions, but that didn’t make them right. They did what seemed spiritual at the moment, but the moment will change with circumstances and culture. As much as man’s explanations may make sense, they are not right when they go against God’s will.
The safest thing you can do in life is follow the voice of God. The reason God was upset with Israel was because He spoke to them, but they followed their own heart. Friend, you will only be safe when you follow God’s Word and will. God will never base His will on human reasoning or logic, but it is based upon what He has called you to do.
I challenge you to find God’s will for your life. Don’t base it upon your feelings or human logic, base it upon what God has told you to do. When God speaks to your heart, don’t let human reasonings and logic talk you out of God’s will. Only you will know God’s personal will for your life. Spiritual leaders can tell you what God’s revealed will is for your life because that is found in the pages of God’s Word; however, no man will know what God’s personal will is for your life because God will show that to you. Let the counseling of spiritual leaders guide you, but don’t let it dictate God’s will for your life. Follow God’s Word and His will, which will never contradict each other, and you will find God’s blessings upon your life.