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An Honest-Hearted Man
It was David Hume who said: “An honest man will always proportion his belief to the evidence.” The Holy Spirit said in Luke 8:15: “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (KJV). Hume, a Scottish born 18th century naturalistic philosopher, argued that religion is a matter of faith and not human reason. He was right about that – 2 Cor. 5:7. He also admitted that the testimony of witnesses can be used to establish historic fact like the miraculous resurrection of Christ – though he himself died without either believing or practicing it.
Bible Examples
We can see numerous examples in the N T of souls who had honest and good hearts who proportioned their belief to the evidence. When Philip found Nathanael, who had a bad feeling about anyone who came from Nazareth, he invited him to come and to examine the evidence. He went and Jesus recognized at once that Nathanael had an honest and good heart – John 1:45-47.
The Apostle Paul
Saul of Tarsus had an honest and good heart. Before he met the Lord on the Damascus road, he had lived with a good conscience before God – Acts 23:1. Up to that point he had verily thought within himself to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth – Acts 26:9. When confronted by the Lord on that road, he learned that “what he thought” was not the standard to set aright his inward moral impressions, but rather what Christ said was (and is) the only right standard – 1 Cor. 4:4. Saul, when confronted by the evidence, changed immediately and went on in the right direction and was baptized.
The Corinthians
Later, at Corinth, Paul fervently preached Christ and Him crucified and many of the Corinthians when they heard believed and were being baptized – 1 Cor. 2:2; Acts 18:8. Yet, when some blasphemed and were resisting his preaching, Paul decided to leave town. But, the Lord, who knows the hearts of men, asked him to stay and keep preaching because He knew He still had many people in that city! Paul took heed to the Lord’s words and stayed another 18 months. As the result, many unrighteous souls were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God – 1 Cor. 6:9-11. Many of the Corinthians had honest and good hearts. When they experienced the drawing power of God, through the preaching of Christ, they proportioned their beliefs to the evidence and were baptized into Christ.
Application for Us!
When we look into the mirror of God’s word, are we really honest in making the necessary adjustments in our lives? Do we examine ourselves daily to see if we are in the faith – 2 Cor. 13:5? Are we trying each day to be holy and blameless that we might be the kind of people God wants with Him in heaven – Eph. 1:4? Do we really desire the good life according to God’s eternal purpose? Are we really trying to give all diligence each day to supply in our faith the virtues our elders have chosen as our theme for this year – 2 Peter 1:5-7? Are we supplying in our faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control and patience? Are we striving to develop more godliness coupled with more contentment in our lives as Christians – 1 Tim. 6:6? Are we developing more brotherly-kindness towards one another and endeavoring to learn more about the love of Christ which surpasses all our comprehension?
Remember, an honest man will always proportion his belief to the evidence found in God’s word. And when the seed of God’s word falls on an honest and good heart it will always bring forth fruit to the praise of God’s glorious grace! Jesus said: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples – John 15:8. AMEN?
