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. 14:7). It "is an exceeding good land,... a land which floweth with milk and honey" (Numb. 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."
(1 Chron. 28:9)
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"
(2 Chron. 15). Still, at the end he had to be warned by Hanani the seer: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." 2 Chron. 16:9.
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. 17:6); 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. 25:2); 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. 26:5). 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.
King Hezekiah was after the blessed example of David, in his faithfulness (2 Chron. 29:2); and the Lord greatly blessed and prospered him.
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. 34:2). "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."
"All his days they departed not from following the Lord" (v. 33). They kept such a passover as had not been kept since the days of Samuel (2 Chron. 35:18). When he died, "Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing
, 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.