If you have read this blog for any length of time, you know that I LOVE God’s creation. Every one of God’s creatures is fascinating if we take the time to look at them. One of those fascinating creatures is called the Zebrafish. It is so unique that scientists are studying it to assist mankind in a number of different areas. They are studying it for cures in such areas as various types of cancer (including melanoma) as well as cardiovascular disease. If the research is successful, we might find a cure for cancer. And humans could have no need for a heart transplant any longer.
The Zebrafish is an amazing creation of God for a number of reasons. They share many of the same main organs and tissues that humans have. Their muscles, blood, kidneys, and eyes are all similar to that of humans. These similarities alone make the Zebrafish quite unique. It also makes them great specimens to study in hopes of finding cures for many ailments. But the most incredible and unique thing about the Zebrafish is its heart. Their heart muscle has the ability to repair itself. You could remove part of the heart of a Zebrafish and, within a few weeks, it would regenerate and be a whole heart again!
Our bodies and hearts deteriorate. They were not created to last forever. But, if scientists were able to determine how a human heart could regenerate the way the Zebrafish heart does, we would no longer have a need for heart transplants.
Our spiritual bodies are another matter, however. We are sinful and our heart, prior to knowing Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, is wicked. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.
In fact, scripture tells us that what comes out of our mouth flows from the heart and it defiles (disgraces) us. “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” Matthew 15:18.
Scripture goes on to say that if our heart is good, good things will flow from it. If our heart is evil, evil things will flow from it. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45.
I am proof of that. A negative, angry person, I only looked out for myself and those I cared about. I didn’t care about other people nor did I do selfless things. I highly doubt that you would have liked me because my heart was dark, self-focused, and sinful. Now, I may have been able to fool you for a while, but you would not have been fooled for very long.
Our behavior and speech make known to others the condition of our spiritual heart. For instance, if we are angry and our speech is perpetually angry, our spiritual heart is not healthy or good. “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9.
Our behavior and speech reveal what is in our hearts. It is where sin is hidden. “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come–sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:21-23.
Although my physical heart was strong, my spiritual heart was dark and damaged. My physical body had no need for a heart transplant, but my spiritual body was in desperate need of a spiritual heart transplant.
Just like the human body requires a heart transplant, so does the spiritual body. God is the one that performs spiritual heart transplants. “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekial 36:26 (NLT).
We are sinful creatures. We have sinful hearts. And what results from sin is death. Our sinful hearts are not only dying, but they are leading us to eternal death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.
When we ask Jesus Christ into our heart to become Lord of our lives, God transplants a good spiritual heart where a dying, sinful heart once was. And the spiritual heart that God gives us will last for all of eternity. It will never die.
But, even when we give our hearts to Jesus, we can begin to drift away from Him. We can begin to harbor sin in our hearts again. We may think that God doesn’t see or that no one knows. But, the truth is, our speech and our actions reveal the content of our hearts.
If we have begun to sin again and are harboring sin in our hearts again, it will be evident. Scripture says so. “Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” Isaiah 29:15. “Woe” in this verse means great sorrow and distress. God knows our sin, no matter how “hidden” we may think it is. “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” Luke 12:2. And, over time, it becomes evident to everyone.
When God has given us a spiritual heart transplant, but we begin to fill our hearts with sin again, we no longer need a spiritual heart transplant. But we do need a bypass. We need to get on our knees, repent, and let the blood of Jesus flow through our hearts, purging all that sin that has built up. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19.
In fact, scripture warns us to be on our guard so that all that God has done for us does not fade from our hearts. It tells us to teach our children and grandchildren about what God has done for us when he rescued us from the penalty of our sin. “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9.”
Scripture warns us to guard our hearts. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23. What flows from our heart tells others about who we are. It reveals whether we are a follower of Jesus Christ or not. Our behavior and speech will either glorify and honor God or it will please the enemy and be used by him to draw people away from God.
What is flowing out of your heart? Do you need a spiritual heart bypass? Do you need a spiritual heart transplant?
Father God, we are arrogant people. Forgive us. We think that we answer to no one… even you. Forgive us. You gave Your only Son, that we might be forgiven. Yet, even when we ask Him into our hearts and to forgive us, we harbor sin in our hearts again. Forgive us, Father. We praise You that You desire to forgive us. You desire to cleanse us of all unrighteousness and give us eternal life with You. And we praise You, Father.
Father God, You know if we need a heart bypass. We pray with the Psalmist, Lord. “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14. Forgive us, Lord Jesus! We pray this in Your precious and holy name, Jesus. Amen.
Are you angry, bitter, self-focused, and riddled with the guilt of your sins? Do your actions and the things that come out of your mouth reveal that you need a spiritual heart transplant? Do you need to ask Jesus into your heart and to be Lord of your life? I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there.
God tells us that, if we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13. Please pray that prayer from the bottom of your heart. God will give you a new heart. He will make you a new creation. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Please pray that prayer. Then reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.come and let me know. I would love to be in prayer with and for you.
Luv Ya!
