IQ #265 An Open Heart part 2: Disease of the Heart

“Hi, my name is D.J and I am an alcoholic. I have not had a drink in 3 years, 2 months. I feel like my life has finally turned around for the better. I also realize that this disease will be with me for the rest of my life and that, if I do not take precautions, and if I do not surround myself with the love, support and guidance I will always need, I could easily fall back into this dreaded disease’s clutches.”

D.J. is a fictional person I made up as is the dialog, but Alcoholism is a disease that is a real and as deadly as any disease that starts within or outside someone’s body.

“Hi, my name is John and I have Atherosclerotic heart disease. Thanks to 3 by-passes performed on me last Friday (April 7^th) I have been given a new lease on life. I realize that this disease will be with me for the rest of my life and that, if I do not take precautions, and if I do not surround myself with the love, support and guidance I will always need, this disease could rear its ugly head up and shorten a life that has just been give an awesome extension.”

John is real. John is me and I thank God for the talents he gave my surgeon, the entire medical staff, the love and support from my family and friends. The surgeon said I have a superstar heart (no damages) and because of how will I was doing after surgery, let me go home on Tuesday. 

Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.  – Proverbs 15:30

Even though I came home early I still have a lot of physical rehab to do to get back to full potential of my abilities, I will always have heart disease. I can deal with that.

There is another heart disease that is the deadliest of all diseases, and the most skilled surgeon cannot by-pass it or remove it.

Proverbs 15:28-32

²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.

³¹ Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.

³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

Ever since the first sin was cast humanity has been filled with a Disease of the Heart. No one is immune to its deathly grip. This disease has an earthly 100% mortality rate. Even in our simplest form of communication our mouths spew out evil and destructive waves of thoughts, if we don’t weigh those thoughts first. It is important to have something to say, but it is equally import to weigh those thoughts first. Do you plan your words first or do you spew out those words without concern for their impact? What about your actions?

This is Holy week, a precious time of observance in my life for the only one that can and did save us from this disease of the heart. Jesus Christ, Son of God.

Today is Good Friday, one of the two most powerful days in the history of man. Jesus’s heart was pure and unblemished and what he did on this day was the most painful, merciful and beautiful action ever recorded. And he did it all out of love for you and me, and for the total devotion he had for his Father in heaven.

Jesus took every ounce of our diseased hearts and put it all on his own and sacrificed to God on the cross. He did this to free everyone who would call on his name so that we would be freed of this wretched curse and be able to live a new live through him.

To complete the sacrifice of this disease Jesus also needed to overcome it by defeating its grip on death. And he did! God rose him from the grave. Mary Magdalene, his disciples and 500 more saw Jesus after he had arisen.

“Follow me.”  a simple command from Jesus to anyone who hears his name. To follow, we also must be willing to let our old lives die and inherit the new life he has for us and gain access to the exclusive, all expenses paid for, eternal kingdom.

This world we live in will always be plagued with the Disease of the Heart and it will take your life away if you let it. Jesus gives you a choice, let our world’s nature take its course on you, or accept a new, joyful and eternal life with Christ Jesus and let it begin today, even in the midst of all this mayhem.

“Hi, my name is John and I have the dreaded Disease of the Heart, but thanks to giving my live over to the master of all surgeons, Jesus Christ, I have been given a new lease on life. I realize that this disease will be around me for the rest of my life and that I need to take precautions, and surround myself with the love, support and guidance of other Christ followers, and in constant training through God’s Word.

Romans 8:11

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

John 4:14:17