In My Heart

"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..." "You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted. The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, "to see how much damage has been done..." "But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there."
    The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next."
    "But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."
    The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."
    "You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there." The surgeon left.
    The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:, " here he paused, "death
within one year."
    He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
    The Lord answered and said, "The boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock
for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."
    The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?" The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb."
    The surgeon wept. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat
across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?" "Yes," said the surgeon. "What did you find?" asked the boy. "I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.                                            

We each need to look at our own heart and see if we have Jesus there. It is more than saying He is there, it consists of obeying His commands and leading a life that corresponds with those commands. And that means all of His commands, not just the ones we want to keep. The hypocrites that Jesus rebuked said they were Godly and righteous, but the lives they lived proved otherwise. This young boy lived it and shared it with others. Jesus told His disciples that others would know they were His by the lives they would lead. Is it obvious to others that Jesus is in your heart?
    “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
This message has been provided by  Wes Webb, evangelist, Chipley Church of Christ, 1295 Brickyard Rd. Chipley, FL 32428 (850) 638