Matters of the heart
About the size of your fist, weighing only 8-10 ounces, comprised of 4 chambers and 4 valves, with an inherently rhythmic electrical supply that is in continuous operation and constantly adjusts to the body’s ever-changing demands, this amazing organ automatically beats 100,000 times/day as it pumps 2,000 gallons of life-giving blood to the body’s 75 trillion cells through a vast network of 60,000 miles of blood vessels.
It first begins to beat about 4-5 weeks after conception. Why it begins to beat remains a scientific mystery. Doctors and researchers alike use words like “intrinsic,” “spontaneous,” “a biological question,” and “no definitive answer” to avoid giving praise and glory to the One whose “eyes saw our unformed substance” and “knitted us together in our mothers’ wombs” (Psalm 139:13-16 NASB). The god of science reluctantly must bow and worship the God of all Creation and Giver of Life. For God alone causes a heart to beat.
The heart is the universal symbol of love, compassion, and emotion. We use words like heartbroken, tender-hearted, heartache, big-hearted, half-hearted, whole-hearted, hard-hearted, lighthearted, cold-hearted, kind-hearted, and sweetheart.
The Bible has much to say about the heart. It uses that word about 900 times to describe how the heart can be comforted, filled, troubled, hardened, anxious, joyful, fearful, evil, dull, grieved, pure, foolish, strengthened, divided, steadfast, courageous, sinful, sincere, deceitful, or broken. It speaks of how it can love, reason, doubt, believe, be made whole, and be made new.
We are told repeatedly to “take heart” and “not lose heart.” Jesus said that out of the heart’s vast resources, the mouth makes withdrawals (Matthew 12:34-35). “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Since the heart has “eyes” that must keep us focused on the right things (Ephesians 1:18-19), we are instructed to “hide God’s Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him” (Psalm 119:11).
Even greater than the circulatory reach and significance of its biological namesake, the biblical heart is truly the center of life. It connects our whole being in word, intent, character, thought, emotion, desire, passion, will, and belief. God has also “set eternity in our hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). No wonder we are told to “watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NASB).
When your biological heart is healthy, your whole body benefits and rejoices. Most of us at least annually, visit a doctor who uses a stethoscope to listen to the beating of your heart to diagnose, prevent, and correct problems.
What would a spiritual stethoscope reveal? For what or who does your heart beat? “The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword…able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB). “Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24 NASB).
Whether your heart remains tender from daily check-ups or you need divine CPR to revive your heart of stone, God is able to “create in you a clean heart” (Psalm 51:10) – a “heart that believes unto righteousness” (Romans 10:9-10), and then “pour His love out within your heart through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5) so that you will be able to “love Him with all of your heart” (Matt 22:37).
How miraculous is it that God makes all this possible through the precious blood of Jesus! Blood, the very life-giving force of our natural existence, is also the supernatural means by which we truly live the abundant life to the glory of God throughout all eternity. Make sure your heart still beats for Him.
“I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever” (Psalm 86:12 NASB).
Spread the Word!
© 2015 Tim McKenzie
On Every Word Ministries
www.OnEveryWord.com
