Heart in a Blender

Heart in a Blender

Follow Your Heart

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

The heart's natural desire to save itself drives so many Christians into depression and anxiety as they attempt to fight the war on sin with dead works and weak attempts to apply the law of Moses to their lives—as if the law has ever held life-changing power, even when it was relevant.

Certainly, we can see what is wrong and, by the willpower of our feeble minds, change the wrong into righteousness—can't we?

We are, after all, willing to share with Jesus the credit for our mysterious change. We can simply say He gave us the willpower, and we overcame it. That’s a good 50/50 split.

In my wrestle with sin, I have warred with this argument—maybe not in so many words—but it amazes me, only in looking back, having felt victorious over something I struggled with, and seeing it is simply gone without explanation. My efforts were futile, weak, and based in the largest tomfoolery of arrogant pride. And even after seeing my ignorance, I continue to walk on, carrying this pride with me as if it is something of great value.

The desperate need for control over my future and circumstances drives a sort of delusional striving with the spiritual—as if the Spirit showed me light, and now the law would save me by my own amazing might.

The upside-down, backwards thinking of the natural man is evident.

Paul teaches us in Romans 7 that the old man is desperate to find the laws of God and violate them with all of his being.

Knowing that it is the law that shines the light, the Spirit of the Christ that covers what the light reveals, and the righteous Judge—Yahweh—that pardons the criminal.

Show me your great strength without His loving grace, and I will show you a blithering, blind fool who walks blindly into the dark, bragging of his skills in spiritual cartography.

The unbelieving world is clear evidence of the failure of following the heart of the natural man.

When the blind give direction, there is a good chance it is dangerous to follow.

Infected by sickness and disease, death, drama, bitterness, and cursing is on every side.

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Hide and Seek with the Almighty God

Genesis 3:9–10

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, “Where art thou?”

And he said, “I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

And He said, “Who told thee that thou wast naked?”

I have walked alive through this world and witnessed the suffering.

Lord, let me suffer for Your sake and not for the sake of my own foolishness. 1 Peter 2:20

The other day, driving home from work, the traffic signal had changed and I began moving through the intersection. To my right, I saw a man walking with his head held high. He strutted—one leg giving way a little more than the other. His right arm moved in a different fashion than the left, and under his unkempt beard and overgrown hair there was a smirk and a face of determination.

I do not know this man, but judging a book by its cover, I would say he was walking because he did not have a car. And from what I could see, hygiene was also lacking. His jeans were torn, and his shirt was not his size—but it seemed to do the job. Yet the walk demonstrated a state of mind that said: I am a king.

I thought to myself, does he feel better in the world in which he lives because he carries himself this way?

Does he think others see him and think of his greatness because of the haughty way he walks?

Oh, don’t judge the man if you don’t know his situation.

You're right—I do not know his situation. But judgment was not the reason for my observance.

I wondered: do we, as believers—often spiritually broke, unkempt, and unshowered—carry ourselves in a similar way? Knowing our hearts have rejected fellowship with God and blocked Him from our sight with the wall of our sin, we now walk arrogantly, as if we are going to tear down that wall one day—we just need to hit the gym real quick.

I find there is a pride within us that reigns over our wicked hearts and blinds us to the truth of our situation.

What if I lose ____? Fill in the blank with anything and everything you care about.

To follow Jesus, we must lay it all at His feet and let Jesus do the work.

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What Must I Do to Save Myself?

Acts 16:30–31

And brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

We are the basest of the universe. We are lower than the angels. We are beneath all of the heavens. We are of no importance.

You say, “Sir, that is a depressing thing you are saying.”

Watch what is next, my dear friend.

Because you are the base of the universe, it is demonstrated that—because of us—there are angels. Because of us, there are stars, moons, and planets.

The greatest story ever told is this:

Because of us, the Son of the Living God came and died so that we may be lifted up with Him in glory.

He desired us. He did not die for angels or demons.

He did not die for any gods or kings.

He died for us.

We are His workmanship. Ephesians 2:10

So in your war with sin, do not beat your sin over the head with your Mosaic Law flashlight.

Recognize Christ. See Him crucified.

Do you see Him on that cross? Picture Him in your mind.

“Father, forgive them.”

He was bloody, beaten, cursed, bruised, and killed—yet His heart never wavered from you.

Let Him walk with you in your sin.

Talk to Him.

Drink your alcohol while you read His Word.

Whatever your hang-up, take Him with you.

It is not your job to clean up your sin by your power.

It is 100% your responsibility to be accountable to your Lord.

Do not hide as Adam did.

You are not hidden.

You have never been forgotten.

You are never out of His sight.

Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Do not hide your face from the One who died for you.

Let Him walk with you.

Romans 6:1–2

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Why do you persist in the thing you hate?

Why do you long for the things you despise?

Do not hide your face.

You are loved.