We were all amazed about 40 years ago when a South African doctor, Christiaan Barnard, transplanted a heart from a brain-dead patient to Louis Washkansky. Louis lived for 18 days, dying from pneumonia. The procedure has been improved and these days survival rates are typically years instead of days. The longest surviving transplant patient, Tony Huesman, received a transplanted heart at the age of 20 in 1978. He was still doing well in 2006, 28 years later! In some ways the idea of continuing to live with someone else's heart is difficult to wrap our minds around. Certainly it represents one of life's great "ultimate sacrifices". And...the heart seems to represent our center...our source of physical vitality and the symbol of our emotions. (I used to joke that if anyone wants to know whether the "quickest way to a man's heart is his stomach", they should ask Dr. Barnard). But our thought today is that we all must receive a heart transplant to become alive spiritually and for eternity. The Lord has come to transform us with the ultimate "makeover" as we invite Him into our lives by faith. As He takes residence by His Spirit within our framework He helps shape attitudes, values, and actions. Our perspective on life is reformed and our sense of purpose is extended to heavenly dimensions. We start really caring for others with the Lord's love.
Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
In a very real sense we receive the transplanted heart of Christ when we place our trust in Him !
blessings,
Rob Smith
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