Heart Trouble

The heart pumps oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body’s cells, tissues, and organs through the arteries and veins in our body back and forth, for as long as we live. When the heart malfunctions, the flow of blood is affected and every other part also malfunctions and the body becomes sick. When the heart stops pumping, the body dies.

The heart is likened to an engine and the arteries and veins as the fuel line. When there is no more fuel that feeds the engine because of clogging, the engine stops functioning or “dies”.

It is absolutely essential that the fuel lines in an engine are kept clean and clear and free from obstruction so the fuel will flow freely just as the arteries and the veins should be kept clean and clear from any obstruction of bad cholesterol so the oxygenated blood will flow freely to keep the body healthy and in good shape.

King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10). Clean from sin which is likened to the bad cholesterol in the arterial walls of the human heart.

The most common affliction that plagues people is physical heart trouble. More than any other ailment, it is the disease that causes an early and sudden death. Statistics show that in the Philippines, the number one ailment-killer is one connected with heart trouble.

But there is an affliction even more deadly than a malfunction of the heart that pumps blood through our body system. It is an spiritual heart disease from which everyone suffers and which leads to eternal death. The Bible tells us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). We are all dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). No one is without sin. Thus, the Bible tells us, “As it is written there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10-12; Psalm 14:2-3 KJV).

The truly and greatest of all heart specialists, the Lord Jesus Christ, said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man” (Matt. 15:19-20).

The prophet Jeremiah said: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9).

King David said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Ps. 51:10) … Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit (vs. 12).” The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise (vs. 17).

We need a new clean heart and a renewed spirit. But how can that happen? It takes the healing touch of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must know Him, accept Him as our Lord and only Savior, and repent of our sins.

God showed His love, kindness and concern to us in Christ Jesus when He gave his only begotten Son to die in our stead in the cross of calvary, the supreme sacrifice of a Father and Son. The shedding of blood of Jesus Christ in the cross of calvary cleanseth us from all sins (Heb. 9:14, 22 & 28); “if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He makes us alive eternally by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; “it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). A gift has to be received so we can benefit from it.

The antidote to physical heart trouble is to eat only healthy foods and avoid “fatty” foods which are the source of bad cholesterol that clogs the arteries of the heart.

On the other hand, the antidote to, or remedy for, spiritual heart trouble is faith in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and the only Savior of our soul; and confession of our sins to God [Jesus Christ in person] (Psalm 32:5 and 51:3), not to any saint, priest or minister.

A special place called the “Kingdom of God” already prepared by our Lord Jesus Christ awaits the born again sinners (John 3:3, 5) where they will live eternally with Jesus Christ (John 3:15-16).

It is true all of us will one day die physically, but not spiritually for the “born again” believer, inasmuch as the incredible assurance and promise of Jesus Christ is: “… I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26 KJV). “Shall never die” in this verse means “shall not die spiritually.” Jesus further promised, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye maybe also” (John 14: 1-3 KJV). “Yet a little while, the world seeth me no more; but ye see me; because I live, ye shall live also” (vs. 19 KJV).

Therefore, the “born again” Christian who remains as such until his last breath is trouble free spiritually in his heart and shall live eternally with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God.

FGBMFI Davao City Chapter Bulletin, March 2, 2013