The Human Heart
The Human Heart
‘AWord from ºthe Pastor’ By Clayton Adams
Your heart is about the size of your fist, protected by the ribs, muscles and other tissues. Your heart has it's own automatic battery called the sinoatrial node (SA Node) it beats relentlessly, sending the electrical signal throughout the heart to pump blood.
When your heart stops, your brain begins to die and without your heart pumping the oxygen rich blood to every cell, permanent brain damage can occur within 4-6 minutes.
Your heart is a muscle but culturally speaking, it is the center of your emotions, thoughts and selfawareness and controls you emotionally. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah about the condition of the human heart.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) Satan uses obvious means to tempt people, for men it is often through what we see and for women it is often an emotional connection. Satan also uses well disguised landmines that explode with destructive and deadly force in our lives.
Some of the landmines include; pride, jealousy, despair, hatred, anger, envy, the desire for revenge, unforgiveness, loneliness, stress, unfulfilled expectations and many more.
The Bible says we all sin.
“For God commended His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8). I am a sinner saved by God's grace. I am unable to earn His grace and I certainly do not deserve God's grace.
The apostle Paul wrote about his own human condition and tendencies this way; “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. (Romans 7:15-19) “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability…” This sums up my heart and my human condition, you too? Oh what a wicked heart I have.
There are three ways we can keep from stepping onto the hidden landmines – The Word of God, the Holy Spirit of God and The Fellowship of Believers. Jesus stated, “If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
(John 8:31-32) According to this week's Cultural Commentary by the Denison Forum, “It's no coincidence that unbiblical morality is increasing as trust in the Bible decreases. Since 1990, the American Library Association (ALA) has released each year a list of the ten 'most challenged books.' Now the ALA has released its 2015 list. For the first time, The Holy Bible is on the list. The only reason given: 'Religious viewpoint.'
According to George Barna research, “the percentage of adults who read the Bible once a week or more is steadily declining.
It is highest among Elders (49 percent) and lowest among Millennials (24 percent). In addition, the number of people who disagree strongly that 'the Bible is totally accurate in all the principles it teaches' has nearly doubled in the last six years.”
More and more our leaders in government, schools, commerce and culture are arranging laws, circumstances and influences that are forcing us to conform to their desires. The “hope and change” brought about in the last 8 years have not been good and the next 4-8 years are not looking much better. Can there be any denial that we as a country are well on our way to conforming to the godless, humanistic, selfish and divided country many of our leaders desire and are orchestrating?
God is about transforming a person's heart through His Word, His Spirit and His Son. The transformation God brings into every life is eternal.
Our hearts tend to ignore the signs and warnings because after all we're human and if we want something we are capable of anything to get what we want. The Bible states, “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21) Even when we make bad choices and decisions, God's purposes and plans always prevails. We have weak and sinful hearts but we have a great, holy and merciful God!
He knows our hearts, our weaknesses and our humanity and He still loves us and desires to change our hearts.
Is your heart beating for God or for yourself? If it's beating for your own selfish purposes you are in a minefield, call out to God, He'll save you!
Clayton Adams is pastor at Earle First Assembly of God. You can e- mail him at cpalaa@ yahoo. com, or find Earle First Assembly on Facebook.
