Jehovah said of Caleb, one of the twelve spies, "He hath another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully."
What a magnificent testimony for God this happy servant was in an evil day. "Moses," said he, "sent me... to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart" (Josh. 14:77Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. (Joshua 14:7)). It "is an exceeding good land,... a land which floweth with milk and honey" (Numb. 14:7, 87And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (Numbers 14:7‑8)).
We can be sure that if our hearts are not fully on Christ, we will only bring up a slander upon the land (v. 36). There can be no true testimony for Christ if our hearts are divided.
David was a man who delighted in the Lord with "his whole heart" (expression used six times in Psalm 119). He admonished King Solomon, his son, to serve the Lord "with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts."
It is the heart God looks at. Shall it not be wholly for Christ, fully set upon pleasing Him in all things?
In King Asa's day, all Judah and Benjamin sought the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul and with their whole desire, and "He was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.... The heart of Asa was perfect all his days"
Oh, for a full heart for a full Savior!
Of Jehoshaphat we read, "His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord" (2 Chron. 17:66And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. (2 Chronicles 17:6)); he was richly rewarded. What a precious record in the Scriptures of those who fully followed the Lord, and what a sad record of those who did not. All these things "are written for our admonition."
Amaziah, the king, "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chron. 25:22And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. (2 Chronicles 25:2)); and he came to a sad end.
His son, King Uzziah, was like him; "and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper" (2 Chron. 26:55And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. (2 Chronicles 26:5)). It is said that God helped him against the Philistines, and afterward he was "marvelously helped, till he was strong"; then he failed and died a leper.
Surely rich returns are assured for true-hearted devotedness, and the Spirit delights to recite every act done out of love of God. A full recompense is made to all who act thus.
Note the bright and precious reference to King Josiah (2 Chron. 34:22And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. (2 Chronicles 34:2)). "He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left." He "made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul.... And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it."
, women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day,... And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah."
What a noble account of one whose heart was fully for the Lord! What a voice for you and me!
Oh, let there be no divided heart within us any longer. Let us have done with all wretched lukewarmness. As refreshing as wholehearted constancy is to the blessed Christ, so distasteful and nauseating to Him is lukewarmness and half-heartedness. Let us repudiate it in His presence, and so cleave to Him with purpose of heart, that His precious, boundless love and His deep, warm and changeless affection may mightily lay hold of us and constrain us. This will melt out all the ice and frost that has been so apparent to Him who loves us.
"O fill me, Jesus Savior, with Thy love; Lead, lead me to the living fount above! Thither may I in simple faith draw nigh, And never to another fountain fly,
But unto Thee."
As the sun shines more directly and intensely upon the earth, so winter yields to the green of spring; and soon the first fruit appears, the song birds return, and all nature smiles. So as we get more directly and individually under the power of His pervading love, the barrenness and chill of winter in our lives give place to the verdure of His presence; blossoms and fruit greet His eye. The heart sings in the joy of His constant smile. The drought then is broken and the floodtide of His grace prevails in everything, like spring rains make ready for a harvest.
Have you noticed the shore when the tide is out? How many rocks and pools appear, and how desolate it all looks; how many unsightly things appear. So when with the Christian the tide is low, how many wretched things make their appearance; mean tempers and feelings, pride and show, narrowness and touchiness, come to the surface- you hardly thought they could be there.
But when the floodtide of God's love overflows, all is changed. How pleasant the sight is of one, humble and joyful in Christ, considerate and kind to others, useful, fruitful and comforting to all. What he gives out comes fresh from the heart, having been enjoyed in communion with God.