A 2.5 Minute Heart Diagnosis
The condition of the human heart is viewed differently by; cardiologists, psychologists, parents and pastors but we each struggle with what constitutes; “being a good person”.
For most of my life, I assumed that loving family, being a friend, working hard, not hurting others and occasionally extending a helping hand was all that was really necessary. From that perspective I’d concluded that I was generally a “good” person. With that assumption safely packed away, I was good to go on-about the life journey that was gifted to me, as however I saw fit. No hurt, no harm.
In the eyes those few who really knew me, that lifestyle was OK, because they shared a similar perspective. My standard of self-measure has since evolved. My new objective is to some day be able to see myself as a “good Christian”. Some might ask; what qualifies you to decide who’s a good person or Christian? My response is that nothing could qualify me to pass judgement on those questions. I’m not even sure that I can objectively judge myself.
With that understood, my self-evaluation shift came when I finally welcomed Jesus into the center of my life. As odd as that may seem to some readers, that was a very difficult decision. I’d been halfway there for a long time. As a responsible, successful, seemingly happy, buck stops here kind of guy, the acceptance of the obvious fact that I couldn’t remotely control the big stuff in life was tough. Case in point, the abundance of hardships that eventually t-boned my life became a blessing. With divine help and by refocusing on things that I was already good at, I became even better at them. By redirecting the skills I’d inherited to the benefit of things that broadly matter, my burdens were shifted onto much more capable shoulders. The primary joys of life, drifted away from what I thought I could earn for myself (family included), toward what I could offer to others. When I completely accepted the Lord into my being, I started to change on the inside, the condition of my heart began to be rectified. Until then I couldn’t see a problem. Now I want to live life differently and I want to try and emulate the role model that I trustingly look up to. That is what is meant by “believing”. When one opens the door to the Lord and He comes to live with-in you, His perfect love and influence begins to show more in your daily actions. If this isn’t the case for you already, such a new life can be greater than you could have ever imagined.
JC CALKINS with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
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