Diseases of the Heart

E

very day finds thousands of people suffering and dying with heart problems. Some experience heart attacks, heart diseases, heart surgeries, along with other types of heart procedures. Should we talk with most of these, they would tell us that it is very important to have a healthy heart. Why is the heart so important? Because it can give life or death! This is true because it pumps the blood that flows through our bodies that is essential for life.

The same can also be said about the spiritual heart that is described so frequently in the word of God. For when this type of heart is not right with God, we are without spiritual life. It is a fact that the spiritual heart that is without Jesus and His saving blood is a heart that is void of life. This is true because Jesus is the source of all spiritual life. Consider the following about Jesus:

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

“But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Those who are saved from sin by obeying the gospel must obey from their hearts. In fact, one cannot become a believer without the heart. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).

Those who were told by Peter on Pentecost to “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), had just been cut in their hearts (vs. 37).

Therefore, those who become penitent believers, who confess Him, and are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27), must obey from their hearts (Rom. 6:17,18). Then as God’s children, they must love God with all their hearts, souls, strength, and minds (Mk. 12:30), and worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This involves the “pure in heart” that Jesus said would see God (Mt. 5:8).

We are sometimes extremely sad over the large number of people in this nation who die physically from heart problems. However, we should be even more grieved over the large number who develop spiritual heart trouble and become spiritually dead. Those with this disease allow the devil to steal the word of God from their hearts (Lk. 8:12), and they exchange the glories of eternal life for a few fleeting moments of lustful pleasures.

Jesus is the only true physician of the spiritual heart, but we must allow Him to help us and to give us the abundant life that He offers. Remember, this beautiful life is possible only for those who are right in their hearts.

“Is your heart right with God?” — BBBristow