Bible Studies

Psa_57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

While in the program for Clinical Pastoral Education, at Erlanger Health Systems and Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, I discovered something about human nature and how to help people. I found you can't fix other people or their problems. It doesn't matter that you feel they need your wisdom. If you are not careful, you will run past the opportunity to be used of the LORD to provide help.

If you study the life of Christ, you see the understanding of human nature is most important. Most of the time we never hear what people are saying; due to the fact, we want them to hear what we are saying. After all, we have the solution to their problem or so we think. But in reality, we are powerless to resolve anything! The answer to any problem is the person and the LORD. But even then a person must come to the place of knowing where they are. If you study the life of Christ and His encounter with people, you will observe the LORD never just fixed their problems without examining their faith.

When Christ was confronted in Matthew 19:16-22, i.e. verse 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Christ pointed out the one thing that kept him from eternal life! If you notice the LORD did not fix his problem. It was up to the young man to fix the problem. Again in Luke 10:25ff. Many times I have heard it said, I just don't go to church - church is not one of the things I do. When I hear that, I know there is a problem but I can't fix that problem in their life. That problem can only be fixed between them and the LORD. And it goes deeper than just not going to church, that is a mask to keep from facing the real issue.

So how does a person move from where they are to where they need to be? How does a person avoid the error of this young man? How does a person get their heart fixed.? I can give an answer - I can say on the authority of God's Word, hear the Word of the LORD, John 5:24, I can say, God will supply your needs, Phil. 4:19, I can say believe on the LORD Jesus Christ for eternal life, John 6:47. And every one of those promises are true but I can't guarantee any of them are heard. Here is why:

The Word of God is taken and filtered through our mind of additions and subtractions, and of our do's and don'ts, our rules and ideas and then what is left is no longer the Truth of God.

Man presumes on God and therefore misunderstands the Goodness of God and the Love of God,

• Our LORD is good, Jas_1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
• He is full of mercy and grace, Heb_4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Psa_107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
• Then there is the Love of God, 1Jn_4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Therefore, man concludes that God approves and excuses: his unbelief, his disobedience, his sin; and that is the reason he never hears the LORD. He presumes on the goodness, love, mercy and grace of God. Because God provides for people, hears their prayers, and in general blesses their life with blessing untold; they think God will excuse their sin.

Don't misunderstand the Grace of God ; it does not carry over into eternity as to provide you an opportunity to correct your life. Death seals and frames your life as it is for the Judgment. If you are going to have your heart fixed, it will happen in this life. That is what His Grace and mercy is all about.

He said in verse 16 "...what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life." What specific act can I do to have eternal life? So the young man thought that eternal life was within him.

Matthew 19:17 "Jesus' reply picks up the word good and explores its implications. The man's question had located 'goodness' in his proposed 'good deed', and so had made it a human quality, as if man were morally self-sufficient"

France, R. T. (1985). Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, p. 288). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Man is incapable of saving himself. How can we provide a perfect sacrifice? How can we full fill the requirements of God? Furthermore, for man to save himself is not in the framework of God's design. He made it free, a gift of His Love and Grace, Romans 6:23. Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

It is interesting here the LORD list five commandments that deal with treatment of others. The last one is out of order. Why? May be that one is his main problem, Mark 7:6-13. The Pharisees taught it was more important to dedicate something to the LORD than to honour father and mother.

He considers God's Love as God's approval on his life. But the bible says the goodness of God leaded thee to repentance, Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

The word "impenitent" in 2:5 means unrepentant, an unchanged belief. It means never moving from where you are to where you need to be.

God's goodness, grace, mercy, love is not His approval of our life; it is our opportunity to get our life fixed. The Grace of God will not carry over into Eternity. In eternity, we will benefit from and experience the Grace and Love of God. But death frames and seals our life as it is lived. That young man will not have the opportunity in eternity to obey the Word of Christ! But he did in this life. I don't know if he ever came back and obeyed the LORD. Maybe he did! I hope so!

In Mark 10:21, we are told the LORD loved him, Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. The LORD pointed out the issue that kept him from believing on Christ for eternal.

I can't tell the person who chose not to go to church to believe on Christ for eternal life and that would fix their problem. The problem exist between them and the LORD. I can give the Word of God about worship, Joh_4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Joh_4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Rev_4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Php_3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Joh_4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Psa 5:7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

The LORD provides us an opportunity this side of eternity to get our heart fixed. The day of opportunity does not extend beyond the grave. Death seals and frames our life as it is to be presented at the judgment.

Psa 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Psa 105:18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Psa_105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.