The Lord looketh upon the heart.

This we know from 1 Samuel 16:7. Previously I have pointed out what a blessing this is for Christians. God does not value us as man values us and God does not rate our abilities as our fellows might rate our abilities. Man looks on the outward. The Lord looks upon a man's heart. In that blessing, there is also a warning. Many profess to be Christians outwardly, yet are not so inwardly. The actions and words may indicate they belong to the Lord, yet their heart may be far from Him. In Matthew 15:8, Jesus says "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." In Matthew 7:21-22, Jesus says,  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Who then is a Christian? One whose heart belongs to the Lord.

Some will try to "fake" it.

The Bible, from beginning to end, is a book that calls men to repent. To repent literally means to have a new mind. It is a change of one's mind or heart that brings about a change of life or actions. One may change his actions without truly changing his mind. I recently read of a mother who had a rebellious child and may the child sit in chair in the corner. The child said, "My body may be sitting, but I'm still standing in my mind." Many attempt to serve Christ in this way. Outwardly, one's life may appear to be aligned with the will of God, but inwardly they are corrupt and decaying cf. Matt. 23.

Judgment is coming.

In II Kings 23:26-27 we read about the impending judgment upon the nation of Judah. Within the context, the statement seems odd. King Josiah had undertaken great and wonderful reforms to purge Judah of its spiritual adultery with idolatry. We even read in verse 25 that Josiah's heart was true to the Lord, so much so, that there was none like him either before or after his reign. Why then is God still determined to judge the nation?

It is true that Josiah's heart was true to the Lord, but it appears that his was the only one. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that overall population of Judah was feigning the repentance. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 3:10) Judah was "faking" it, and as a result, the hammer of judgment fell.

So it will be with us if we do not repent. The Bible calls us to stop sinning and turn to God. Peter tells us that it is not God's will that any should perish but that ALL should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9). Hell is not prepared for us. It is prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). Christ is preparing for us a wonderful home in heaven (John 14:1-6) but in order to receive it we must repent and turn to God in faith (Acts 2:37-28, Eph. 2:8-9). For those who will not repent, Peter continues  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)

Let each of us repent and turn to God with his whole heart.