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Feather–n–Ink
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Author Rebecca Britt, Oregon
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A Condition of the Heart
A fellow employee was
challenged by a friend to address the issue of 'good works'. People who don't
believe in God do nice things for others all the time. What difference does it
make whether or not you're a Christian? A good work is a good work.
I mulled over this
for no more than a couple heartbeats when the answer popped out of my mouth.
"It's all about the heart."
Now I know many would
argue that their hearts break over the naked, starving, and destitute. I can't
name a charitable organization that does not accept gifts from any and all
regardless of their personal beliefs. However, Jeremiah 17:9 tells us,
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can
know it?" Everything done under the delusion of the heart (yours and mine)
results in death; literally no life, no hope.
Proverbs 14:12
reminds us, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but the its end is
the way of death."
What separates me
from the 'world' is my desire to first know the heart of my Father, Savior, and
Lord. This desire was not birthed at the moment of my salvation. Like many of
my brothers and sisters in Christ, it took years of falling and failing to
learn this vital priority.
I quoted John 14:15
to my workmate; "If you love me, keep my commandments." One of what I
call my 'nutshell faith' statements put this in very practical terms. 'I tune
my ear to the voice of my Shepherd through prayer and reading and hearing His
word (Bible: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth). If I love Him, I'll do
what He tells me. One of the first things He told me is how much He loves me;
so much, He gave His life for me. How could I not love Him back and want to
please Him?
One day, six year old
Tommy wanted to please his mother. He knew what she would like and hatched a
plan. Tommy went to his bedroom and shut the door. After a period of time,
Mother realized that it was too quiet in the house. Her normally rambunctious
son wasn't tornadoing the house. She went to his room to check on him and found
the door closed. Carefully, she eased it open a bit without making a sound and
peaked in. Her little man had made his bed, though the blankets were a little
lopsided. The floor was cleared of toys, though some were poking out from under
the bed. All the dresser drawers were shut, though she could only guess at the
condition of the clothes tucked inside. Tommy had his back to her rearranging
his shoes in the closet. 
Mother was sneaky
quiet shutting the door and tiptoeing back to the kitchen.
Soon the lovely aroma
of baking cookies drew little Tommy from his room. He ran to the kitchen where
Mother waited with open arms to give him a big hug.
"...All things
were created by Him and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all
things consist." (Colossians 1:16b-17) Knowing who Jesus Christ is and
what He has done brings me to my knees in unmeasured gratitude. That is a
condition of the heart. I want to know, intimately, the One who loved me first,
died for my eternal redemption and gives me my next breath. It's God air.
Therefore, it's rarified air. Breathe.
