If I were to take a special X-ray of your heart–not the one that pumps blood but the one that dreams and feels–what would I find?
I asked myself that question and decided to paint the results.
When I examine my passions and dreams, I see a performer who runs after goals, who hopes for love, and who maybe drinks a little too much coffee.
You may look and think these elements are what makes me a unique person and see nothing wrong with that. But, let me share what I see.
I see a heart that is consumed.
What looks like personality traits or unique characteristics can actually be disguising what’s truly underneath. The heart I see is vain about appearances, obsessed with career goals, addicted to coffee, desperate for love, and thirsty for praise.
I’m not downing myself; I’m being honest about what makes me–me. God has given me dreams to pursue and interests to enjoy.
BUT, there’s a fine line. The line separates God’s intentions for these qualities and my intentions. If I allow these things to control me in honor of “being true to my heart,” then I’m damaging my relationship with God in the long run.
!!!BREAKING NEWS!!!
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. -1 Corinthians 3:12-15
One day, we will all stand before Jesus and he will let us look back on our lives. Then, we will watch as a fire consumes everything we believed, everything we worked for, and everything we were passionate about. What was true and pure will remain and shine like silver, and what was in vain will burn like chaff.
I want to start testing my heart now to be sure of what will come through the fire and what will be burned. I don’t want to suffer from the loss of a life doing wasteful things. I don’t want to find out that everything I thought was good enough could have been better or put to better use.
I challenge you to look at your heart. Not only at the negativity that resides there, but also look at the good. Look at what you believe is harmful and harmless. Examine your time, your hobbies, your dreams, your deepest desires and ask, “Is God over all or just a small piece?”
God has work to do in our hearts, let’s not stand in his way, but let’s give him the torch.
God bless!
-LJM
Leah Jordan Meahl 