Let us read Colossians 3:15–16.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Every nation seeks to make its country splendid and beautiful. Cities also strive to become more beautiful by planting trees along their streets, placing sculptures in their squares, and adding various decorations to their buildings. The same is true of homes. People hang paintings, arrange flowers, and bring in various decorative objects to make their homes beautiful.

Yet there is another world within every person, a world invisible to the eye. It is the world of the heart. People decorate their hearts with various things. And just as they live in the homes they have decorated, they also live within the world they have decorated in their hearts.

A Land Filled with Idols

When the apostle Paul arrived in Athens, he was deeply troubled to see that the city was full of idols (Acts 17:16). Athens was famous for its philosophy, learning, and art, yet it was filled with temples, altars, and statues dedicated to numerous gods. People encountered idols as they walked through the streets, visited the squares, or entered the temples. Idols were what adorned the city.

We find something similar in the history of Israel and Judah. Kings who turned away from God worshiped Baal, erected Asherah poles, and established high places where people offered sacrifices to idols. As a result, the land of God’s chosen people was defiled by idolatry.

Ahab, king of northern Israel, married Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Sidon. He then built a temple for Baal in Samaria, erected an altar, and even made an Asherah pole (1 Kings 16:31–33). The people saw the altars and Asherah poles wherever they went, and eventually committed the evil of worshiping worthless idols.

Manasseh, king of southern Judah, went even further. He erected altars to foreign gods and placed an Asherah image inside the temple of the Lord (2 Kings 21:3–7). He established idols in the very place that had been set apart for the worship of God. There were idols at the high places, and there were idols even inside God’s temple. The land of a people who should have worshiped God was defiled by idols. The people followed their king in worshiping idols, and Scripture testifies that they committed even greater evil than the nations around them.

A Land Where Idols Were Removed and God’s Word Was Established

When kings who feared God arose, the landscape of the nation changed. King Hezekiah removed the high places, broke the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He even destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made because the people had begun worshiping it as an idol (2 Kings 18:4).

King Josiah went even further. When he heard the words of the Book of the Law discovered in the temple, he tore his clothes in repentance. He brought out of the temple all the objects made for Baal and Asherah and burned them. He also removed the high places and idols throughout the land (2 Kings 23). Then he celebrated the Passover before the Lord together with the people.

The kings who feared God removed the idols and restored God’s Word and worship in their place. Where sacrifices had been offered to idols, the worship of God was restored. God’s Word, which had been forgotten, was read again, and the feasts of the Lord, which had been neglected, were observed once more.

As the things that filled the nation changed, what the people saw and heard also changed. The human heart is much the same. The world within the heart changes according to what a person establishes there.

A Heart Filled with Death

Some people live with their hearts decorated by the law of sin and death.

When such a person walks through the world of his heart, he encounters sin on one street. When he turns onto another street, condemnation awaits him. In the square stands the fear of judgment, and deep within his heart lies the shadow of death.

Wherever he looks, there is death. Wherever he turns, there is death. No matter where he walks, he cannot find any hope.

Judas Iscariot is a representative example of someone whose heart became filled with thoughts of sin and death.

After betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, he realized that he had betrayed innocent blood and was deeply distressed. He therefore tried to return the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. But they paid no attention to his suffering. Judas threw the silver into the temple, went away, and took his own life.

Judas recognized his sin and regretted what he had done, but the grace of God that forgives sin and the hope of salvation found no place in his heart. As he walked through the world of his heart, he encountered only thoughts that condemned him. Wherever he looked, he saw his sin; wherever he turned, he saw judgment. Unable to find rest anywhere, he finally took his own life.

A Heart Filled with Joy and Praise

But there are people whose hearts are richly adorned with the gracious Word of God.

Such a person walks along a street in his heart and encounters these words:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

As he looks upon these words, he remembers once again the grace of God that has set him free from condemnation. And deep within his heart, joy arises as he realizes that through Jesus Christ he is no longer under condemnation.

Walking down another street, he finds these words waiting for him:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Standing before these words, he remembers how deeply God has loved him. As he considers that Christ died for him not when he was righteous, but while he was still a sinner, he is overwhelmed by the love of God.

He continues walking through the world of his heart. This time, another passage catches his eye:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28).

As he looks upon these words, he gives thanks to Jesus, who has given him eternal life. And as he thinks of the Lord’s hand holding him securely, he finds peace.

Walking to another place, he encounters these words:

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

Whenever he faces difficulties, he looks to this promise. Although people may leave him and everything in the world may change, he gains strength again as he remembers God’s promise never to leave or forsake him.

As he walks through the world of his heart, he encounters grace here and love there. On one street, he enjoys the joy of forgiveness; on another, he discovers the hope of eternal life.

Wherever he looks, there is hope. Wherever he turns, there is life.

Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly

The apostle Paul said to the believers in Colossae:

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15).

And he continued:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16).

When the Word of Christ dwells richly in our hearts, we experience God’s grace and love through that Word. And when believers gather together, they teach and admonish one another through the same Word, sharing the grace of God with one another.

Thus, the peace of Christ and thanksgiving come to abound not only in individual hearts but also within the community of the church. And believers come to praise God with “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”