Excavating the Heart

There are many things I do not know and there are many things I cannot explain; but of this I am sure:  God is alive and His Word is Truth.   There are some who deny there is a God and refer to the Bible as “just a story” or even “a fable,” but as time passes, archaeological discoveries continue to discredit the claims of unbelievers and prove that the Bible is historically accurate.  Psalm 85:11 tells us, “Truth shall spring out of the earth,” and in case after case, evidence is uncovered from deep within the ground that confirms what we read on the pages of God’s Word.  I am reminded of when Jesus prayed to His Father saying, “Sanctify them by your truth.  Your word is Truth” (John 17:17).

I find biblical archaeology to be fascinating.  I enjoy reading reports of newly found cities that were once believed to be nonexistent.  I like looking at pictures of roads where the feet of Old Testament men and women would have stepped and buildings that would have been their homes.  I am encouraged when I see evidence of a past civilization’s belief in God through the discovery of biblical writings and places of worship.  My faith is strengthened when I see pictures of the crumbled walls of Jericho and chariot wheels deep within the waters of the Red Sea.

As these archaeological digs uncover biblical history and confirm the Scriptures I think about present day Christian evidences.  More specifically, I think about the heart of a Christian.  Imagine with me for a moment:  if your heart were the site of an “archaeological” dig; what would be found there that would confirm your Christianity?  What discoveries would be made that would bring someone to the conclusion that “surely this person—the owner of this heart—was indeed a follower of Christ?”

If your heart were the site of a dig, would God’s Law be found written on its walls?  “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33).  God has always intended for His laws to be carried in the hearts of His people: whether written on tablets of stone or written on the pages of the New Testament.  The New Law, which replaces the Old, is a covenant that God has made with all people, everywhere, and those who follow it are characterized by spiritual faithfulness—not perfection—but faithfulness.  The Law becomes “written on our hearts” when we hear God’s Word and respond to it in love and faithful obedience.

If your heart were the site of a dig, would the characteristics of God’s dwelling place be revealed?  “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24).  “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” (Ephesians 3:17).  In the days of the Old Testament, the only person who had direct access to God was the high priest.  He alone could enter the Holy of Holies and be in the presence of God.  With the death of Christ on the cross, that privilege became available to all people as the veil separating the Holy of Holies was symbolically torn from top to bottom.  The lampstand would be the light of His Word, the incense would be the sweet aroma of our prayers rising up to Heaven, the showbread would be our regular communion with God in memory of His Son’s death, the sacrifice would be the offering of the body of Jesus one time for all, and God would no longer dwell in a temple, or even in the Holy of Holies, but rather in the hearts of His people. 

If your heart were the site of a dig, would the evidence show that it had been closely guarded?  “Keep your heart with all diligence.  For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).   Jesus told His disciples that “those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man” (Matthew 15:18).  In other words, impurity originates in the heart.  As Christians we must guard our hearts because, ultimately, the thoughts that originate there will determine our actions, which will in turn determine our habits, which will in turn determine our character.  David prayed that God would create in him a “clean heart” (Psalm 51:10).   A clean heart must be protected from the world.  We can protect our hearts through prayer (Philippians 4:6-7) and meditation on God’s Word (Psalm 119:9, Philippians 4:8). 

The hearts of Christians today should give testimony to the Word of God.  The very center of who we are: our thoughts, our emotions, and our will should be reflective of Christ.  We must ask ourselves, “Are our hearts an affirmation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Do they reflect our Faith?”  If your heart were a dig site, what would be found there?

A Lady of the Lamp

She is a 'ministering angel' without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow's face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night and silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.

Those words were printed in the British newspaper, The Times, in reference to Florence Nightingale, a woman remembered today as the founder of modern nursing.  During the Crimean War she became known as “The Lady of the Lamp,” because she would make her hospital rounds at night, carrying a small lantern and caring for wounded soldiers.

Florence Nightingale made it her mission in life to serve the hurting and the dying.  She was not of the sick, but she was sent to work in hospitals among the sick to provide them with help and hope.  She indeed was a “Lady of the Lamp:” A light shining in the darkness.

When Pilate questioned Jesus about the accusations brought against Him, Jesus answered by saying “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36).   Jesus was speaking about Heaven—the place of citizenship for the Christian (Phillipians 3:20)—our focus, our hope, and our motivation while living on earth.  In the book of James we read that our lives are “a vapor, that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  (James 4:14).  Our time here is short, and we endure the pain, the suffering, the trials, knowing that these “light afflictions” are momentary and are preparing an eternal glory for us to which nothing else can compare.  (2 Corinthians 4:17). 

We are to be a separate people, knowing that we do not belong to this world or live according to its values.  It is equally important to remember that we have been given a command to go into the world to preach the Gospel.  As Florence Nightingale was sent into hospitals to care for the sick, we have been sent into the world to save the lost.

So here we are, in this world, with the divine charge not to be conformed to it (Romans 12:2), but also enlisted with the commission to go into the world and bring people to Jesus (Matthew 28:20).

Is it possible to go into the world and not be of the world?

It’s what Jesus did.

It’s what He prayed for His disciples, present and future.

Jesus recognized that His disciples, like Him, are not of the world, but in His prayer just before His arrest, Jesus did not ask God to take His disciples out of the world, rather He asked that while they are here they may be kept from the “evil one” and be unified in Him so that others may believe.

As a mother, I want to shield my children from the evils of this world.  I want to protect their little hearts as long as I can.  However, it is also my responsibility to teach my children how to live in this world as a Christian.  I need to teach them how to be different and how to be approachable; how to resist temptation and how to shine in darkness; how to be separate and how to approach the lost…all at the same time.   I have to prepare my children, and myself, to go into the world so we can bring others out of the world, while fighting the influences of the devil and remaining unified in Christ.

How do I do that?  The answer is this:  Through faithful study and application of God’s Word.   The Word is what makes us different; the Word is what transforms us; the Word is what separates us from the world.  For us to go into the world but remain apart from the world, we must be fully armed for spiritual battle everyday through our knowledge of, and faithful obedience to the Word of God.  We can either go into the world and be negatively influenced by it, or we can go into the world and be a positive influence to those around us by showing them the love of Christ through the Gospel message. 

I want to be a “Lady of the Lamp.”  I want to be a light shining in the darkness.  I want to be someone who brings hope to the hurting.  I want to be close enough to the sick that they can see the light reflecting on my face and see the love of Christ.  I want to be in situations where I can take a stand for what is right.  I want the warmth and brightness of my lamp to draw people closer to God.  I want to be recognized in the world by my light.  I want to shine so that people know where to find me and be close enough for them to reach out and touch me.   I want others to see me coming and know that I am someone who can offer help. 

I imagine Florence Nightingale walking down a dark hall of the hospital with her lamp, caring for the sick lined up along the walls.  I picture a wounded man at the end of hall watching the little flicker of light from her lamp and knowing that help was coming, yearning for the touch of the nurse. I pray that God will make me a “Lady of the Lamp;” that He will help me shine as I go out into this world and instill within me the sincere and loving desire to bring others out.