"What Makes You You?", Part 3

 

“What Makes You You?”

(Please read the above article beforehand.)

“Your hands shaped me and made me….” (Job 10:8, emphasis added).

Part 3: Your Heart

“Heartbeats”

 

Fingerprints were first developed and used in police work in Argentina in 1892 and made its way to New York in 1902. In 1986 DNA evidence was introduced in criminal cases in England and the U.S. Both are highly accurate because the likelihood of two persons’ having the same fingerprints or DNA are extremely small. The same is true of each of our heartbeats. EKG procedures show there are countless variations to the “bomp-bomp” we feel and sometimes hear as our heart does its work in us 24/7/365, totaling over 3 billion beats during an 80 year lifespan. Truly we can all say with David, “…I am fearfully and wonderfully made….” (Psalm 139:14).

“Heart” occurs some 570 times in Scripture, the vast majority not referring to the pump in our chest but, in the words of theologian Owen Brandon, “The center or focus of one’s inner personal life.” This is why we think and act as we do and why we must take Solomon’s words seriously: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT). Jesus confirmed this when He told the Pharisees, “…Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34).

Just as our physical heartbeat is unique so is our emotional heartbeat, which explains what excites our passions. When I completed my time on our church fellowship’s board in 1998 the spokesman noted that I was passionate about chaplaincy ministry. After 30 years I’m still involved in supporting these missionaries to our military, health care venues, prisons and other areas through prayer and contact via email and phone. Others’ enthusiasm may lie with music, children’s work, outreach or another sphere of service as well as other areas of our lives. We must remember, however, that not everyone is passionate for what we are (“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might….”—Ecclesiastes 9:10, emphasis added) so let’s respect the freedom of others to live out what motivates them.

A preacher once observed, “There are only two things that last forever: God’s Word (Psalm 119:89) and people’s souls (John 3:36). I plan to invest my life in both.” Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). So we must each ask, “Where’s my heart?” May it be where God wants it to be.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan