Spiritual Heart Transplants

On December 3, 1967 the first human heart transplant was performed. A heart transplant is done when the heart is damaged beyond the point of repair and must be replaced for life to continue. Our God, Yehovah, has been performing heart transplants for thousands of year resulting in eternal life for the recipients!

Just as the heart is a vital physical organ, it is also a vital spiritual organ. We are warned to “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The good news is that when we are in right relationship with God, “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

What is the condition of the human heart? Jeremiah lamented “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). Solomon also recognized the problem, “the hearts of the sons of mankind are full of evil, and insanity (pride) is in their hearts throughout their lives” (Ecclesiastes 9:3), they are “fully given to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). Jesus warned “For out of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 5:19)

Our hearts are irreversibly damaged by sin. Yehovah diagnosed heart failure in His people, “the entire heart is faint…There is nothing healthy in it” (Isaiah 1:5-6). David identified the cause of the heart failure “There is no healthy part in my flesh…because of my sin.” (Psalm 38:3)

God loves us too much to leave us in our fallen condition. Yeshua (Jesus) provided for our salvation by paying the penalty for our sins through His death and resurrection. When we repent of our sins and believe in Yeshua we receive a new heart – we experience a spiritual heart transplant. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Note that we not only receive a new heart but a new spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells believers to empower them to understand scripture and to be obedient to God. These actions will keep their new heart healthy.

Our new hearts also have a unique feature designed to keep them healthy, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.” (Jeremiah 31:33). David recognized the important function of God’s word, “I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11).Solomon described God’s words as “life to those who find them and health to all their body” (Proverbs 4:22)

Your new heart requires ongoing spiritual care. The prescription for maintaining your heart is ongoing prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15). You also require regular follow-up visits with your spiritual healthcare team – your church (Hebrews 10:25). There is no waiting list for a donor heart – get yours!