What is the most important question you may ask today? "How successful will I be?" "How much money do I have?" "What will I eat?" "What time will I get home?” Numerous questions arise each day, and ours may vary depending on our priorities and circumstances.
May I suggest we consider this question as the most important, today (and everyday): "Is my heart right with God?"
E. A. Hoffman's "Is Thy Heart Right With God?" was published in 1899. In the Refrain of this hymn, we find the words: “Is thy heart right with God, Washed in the crimson flood, Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly, Right in the sight of God?”
The song correctly teaches that in order for our hearts to be right in the sight of God, we must be cleansed and made holy by being washed in the blood of Jesus. The apostle John wrote of Jesus, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Revelation 1:5). No doubt, it is the blood of Christ—and only the blood of Christ—which can wash away a person's sins. But, at what point does this take place? Further study of the scriptures nets us the conclusion that it is when a confessing penitent believer is immersed in water for the purpose of having his sins washed away (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:10; Acts 22:16).
Furthermore, the song correctly teaches that it is not only a cleansed heart, but a "humble and lowly” heart, which is right in the sight of God. Yes, such humility and lowliness must happen before the cleansing (Matthew 5:3–7; 2 Corinthians 7:10), but the heart must also remain "humble and lowly." For, it is by humility that we will continue to recognize our dependence upon God (Matthew 5:3). It is by humility that we can resist the devil (James 4:6–7). It is by humility that we can maintain a penitent heart which walks in the light (1 John 1:7).
As the hymn inquires, “Have thy affections been nailed to the cross? Is thy heart right with God? Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss? Is thy heart right with God? Is thy heart right with God, Washed in the crimson flood, Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly, Right in the sight of God?"
Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. For free Bible Correspondence Courses and In-Person Bible Studies, Emailus@coldwatercofc.com, or call us at 662-622-7951
