Spiritual Heart Failure: Definition, Examination And Contamination - Part Two
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 3:15 (KJV, emphasis added)
When I turned 50 years of age the word examination went to a new level of understanding, specifically as it relates to my personal health screening. My physician told me that it was time to have my prostate examined. No big deal, I thought until I had the processed explained to me. Let’s just say I wanted to pray for another way! And I had to choose to put on my big boy pants that day as well as drop all my concerns and personal comfort. At some point, most men will either be offered a prostate examination as part of general health screening or it will be advised by their doctor because of their age.
The prospect of a prostate exam may leave some men with a sense of fear and outright fright. In fact, this feeling can lead to some men putting off the exam or avoiding it altogether. As a result, they are disregarding good advice and even warning signs of potential problems that a simple prostate exam can catch before they become serious issues.
As it relates to matters of faith, all of us that know Jesus Christ as Lord should be making it a deliberate discipline to engage in personal spiritual examinations. The cancer of carnality is crafty and would love to cement a hard and hostile heart towards the will and purposes of our good, loving and faithful Father.
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7 (KJV, emphasis added)
When we need an examination for our physical health screening we want the most competent and certified medical professional that we can find. Of course, it must be someone we can trust! Therefore, when we need a spiritual examination of our hearts we must discard and disqualify ourselves because our hearts are deceitful and seriously soiled with sin. Instead, it is absolutely essential that we examine our hearts with the light and knife of the Great Physician, Jesus, which is the Word of God.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
God’s Word reveals to us its divine ability to shine a sanctified spotlight while also severing and scrutinizing feelings and attitudes. With perfect precision it penetrates to the deepest levels of our inner being that no tool or technique of man such as psychology or therapeutic techniques can touch. Just as a physical health exam has the potential to expose cancer, the Great Physician uses His examination to expose contamination to our souls.
Are you courageous to pray the words of King David today?
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” Psalm 139:23 (KJV, emphasis added)
Join me again next week as we continue our discussion on spiritual heart failure.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR