The Heart of the Matter

Because of some of the comments (which I have not published), I know that there are people out there who do not agree with what I have to say. I don't mind you not agreeing - not at all. What I do not believe, however, is that those who don't agree with me understand my heart.

Let me put try to put it in perspective with this analogy. Suppose there is a man who through a series of events got decided to get his doctorate in math. His math work is ingenious. He understands logarithms, derivatives, integrals, differentials, and other higher math functions. He can perform all of the above wonderfully with one flaw. He cannot do his addition facts. If I were his teacher, I could do several things. I could ignore the problem. After all, his ability in higher maths is amazing! He will still be able to make significant contributions to the field of mathematics despite his problem with the most basic of math functions. Secondly, I could mention it casually in conversation that I have noticed a slight problem, but still pass him with a wink, believing that he will take care of it on his own in time. The last option would be to make him aware of his problem and with care talk to him about how, while all these other things he can do are wonderful if he cannot or will not fix the problem with his addition facts, that he will not graduate because I know something he may not realize at that moment. I know that in order to graduate he has to pass both written and oral comprehensive exams. While he can use a calculator for much of math, during his oral comprehensive exams he will not be able to have a calculator at his side. I know the professors which make up his examination board. I know that all three of them will fail him if he doesn't know his addition facts.

What is the loving thing for me to do? As his teacher, it is not loving to not say anything because I don't want to hurt his feelings. As his teacher, if I mention his problem in passing, but do not fail him in my course until he gets this under control, I am not being loving. The loving thing to do is to let him know where his problem lies and how to fix the problem.

Whether or not you agree women should stay home or homosexuality is wrong; whether or not you will acknowledge man's need of a Savior because we (and this SO includes me!) are radically depraved and left to ourselves we have already and will continue to degenerate into not acknowledging our sin as sin and as an offense to a holy and just God; whether or not you agree with me, you must realize that I write what I write because I do not want anyone who reads this blog to EVER EVER go away thinking that we, as a people are, or she as an individual is alright. I do not want anyone reading this blog to leave without having a taste of the fact that we are sinners, but that there is THE ANSWER. His name is Jesus. If you realize that you are sinful -- can you even go for an hour without a hateful thought? - I can't! -- that there is a Savior who loves you, who says that "the wages of sin is DEATH, but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," Romans 3:23. He also says that "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Maybe you are thinking that you do a lot of good things. Well, just because the man in my illustration could do integrals and differentials but not addition doesn't mean that he will pass. Just because you do good things doesn't mean that you get off the hook for doing the one thing that really matters - accepting Jesus as your Savior. What about, well that may be true for you, but not for me? The Bible says in John 14:6, "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me [Jesus]." He isn't ONE way; He is THE way. He isn't ONE truth; He is THE truth. He isn't ONE life; He is THE life. Check out scripture, look with an open heart at what is there. Do you want to gamble your eternal soul on the prospect of not wanting to believe the truth? What if, just what if you were wrong and there was only one way to Heaven after you die? Where would that leave you?

Whether or not you agree with me, know that I say what I say because I so want people to realize that there is hope out there for the sinful problems which ail this world, the people (including me) of this world! There is HOPE! His name is Jesus. The angel Gabriel said to Joseph, "And she [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins."

If you want any further information, feel free to leave a comment. If you don't want it published, just say so, and I won't.