byThe Oxford Dictionary defines a Human as “a man, woman, or child of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished from other animals by superior mental development, power of articulate speech, and upright stance.” The Bible, however, defines us as the final creation of God, superior to all creation because we are made in the image and likeness of God (see Genesis 1:26). For this reason, it is not just the outward appearance that makes us humans but what is in our innermost being. An animal does not have an innermost being, nor do trees, but we do. Today, you will read about the what, why and how of paying attention to the well-being of your innermost being as a Christian.
What is the innermost being?
The innermost being is your heart. Not your heart according to biology, but the place where you receive and deposit the Word of God. The part of you that loves. The part of you that feels. That part of you differs from your mind but is closely related to your spirit. The innermost being is a house or edifice for a spirit. It doesn’t matter what kind of spirit it is. The spirit resides there and informs you through your sensations and impulses. If the devil occupies your innermost being, he can make your heart lustful, wicked or stone cold. Conversely, if your innermost being is filled with the Holy Ghost, He will help you love rightly, comfort you, remind you and explain the Word of God to you.
Why must you pay attention to your innermost being?
Your heart is very important as a Christian. As a human being, your heart is where all the issues of (your) life come from. Proverbs 4:23 says,
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”.
If you would do immoral things, it is your heart that makes you do it. If you live an upright life, it is from your heart that you make the decision. Your heart is where Jesus or the devil resides. It is a spiritual home. For this reason, if you do not allow Jesus into your heart, the devil will allow himself into your heart. Your heart cannot be empty, and your heart cannot bear two masters. That is the reason you must pay attention to the well-being of your innermost being. Who is it that resides in your heart? If it is Jesus, guard it from unwanted entities from the devil that can infest it from enjoying the peace of Christ,
How do you pay attention to your innermost being?
Paying attention means keeping watch over or guarding. As already stated, your innermost being (heart) is a home for spirit(s). How, then, do you guard your home? Looking at it from the perspective of a physical house, it is just that this house can only accommodate one person. In a physical house, you guard your house from thieves by fencing your house and employing serious security technology.
In the same way, you can guard your innermost being against the thief, who is the devil (John 10:10), by surrounding your heart with the Word of God and using it to attack him (the devil) each time he comes close to your heart. You can guard your heart with principles from the Bible that would recognise the devil when he is approaching. For instance, if you have Matthew 5:28 in your heart, you know that when you look at a woman lustfully, you have sinned. So, immediately you realise you are in the process of looking at a woman lustfully, your heart is alarmed that the devil is trying to break in, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, you will stop.
As a human being, you possess an innermost being—a spiritual home that cannot remain empty. It is up to you to decide who dwells within it. Whether Jesus or the devil takes residence in your heart depends on your vigilance and commitment. By immersing yourself in God’s Word and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you can safeguard your heart against spiritual intruders. Please pay attention to the well-being of your innermost being, for it determines the course of your life. Amen.
