In and out. In and out. This is the nature of everything. Even the things man has created. Even man himself. With cars we put in fuel to make it run. What comes out is exhaust or waste. Fuel cause it to have the energy to operate. In humans and animals, right down to micro organisms, it is the same. We were created this way. We consume food and water for energy which keeps the body running. Then the body gets rid of the waste, the by product of the fuel we had consumed in the body. That is how we operate physically. What about spiritually, the things that control your life?
In proverbs we have the scripture saying,
“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life. (Prov 4:23)
In the book of Matthew we have Jesus himself saying,
“Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” (Matt 15:16-20)
The verse from proverbs indicates that the heart needs some protection. It says that out of it (the heart) are the issues of life. If you want a good life it is important to guard what you allow to enter your heart. I believe the heart is the spirit of a man. The real you. The body is only a vehicle by which we function in this natural world. We have never seen what we really look like. We have only seen the outer shell.
I believe that the five senses are five ways in which the heart or the real man or woman can be affected, or programmed if you will. The things we allow ourselves to see, hear, touch (sensation), even the things we tasted or smell influence the heart in some way. It will affect you for good or evil. It influences what we believe and, how we act or function in life.
Why do I believe that? Because of what Jesus said in the second scripture I gave. He says that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person but what comes out, because, what comes out of the mouth (what we speak) comes directly from the heart. And look at the list of things the Lord says comes from the heart.
- evil thoughts
- murders
- adulteries
- fornication
- theft
- lying
- blasphemy
Are these the issues of your life? Are these the things coming out of your heart. How do you change it? Perhaps you need a new heart. The Apostle John says this,
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12)
The King James version says He gave them the power to become the sons of God. This is the first step to changing what is coming out of your heart – receive God. Take Him at his word. He is not a liar. If you will receive Him (Jesus) as the Son of God, who died for your sin, and was raised from the dead three days later, you can become a child of God.
What do I mean when I say receive Him? When you are watching TV, listening to music, or experiencing some other sensation, you are in input mode. You are receiving into your heart or spirit the things that you are hearing, seeing, or experiencing. Therefore, that is what comes out. Now the Lord is asking you to receive Him – His Word.
In choosing to believe that God sent His Son to die for your sin, you are choosing to receive Him. This is a trade you can’t pass up. He died for your sin. He took your punishment. Some how in three days Jesus paid the price of death, which would have kept you for eternity. What you get is His life. Death could not hold him because He was found righteous before God. If you believe in Him death wont be able to hold you either.
The issues in your heart will begin to change when you receive Jesus because your heart will be changed. You now have new life. This new life requires that you feed on the Word of God – the bible. This is the best way to protect that new life and to guard your heart. Out of this new heart comes new life in Jesus Christ.
In and out. What goes in ultimately comes out.
I would like to leave you with one last verse from Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
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