Heaven Bound

The Bible has much to say about the human heart. Aside from being a fleshly organ that keeps blood circulating throughout our bodies it is evident from scripture that it is much more than a pump that keeps us alive; it is also considered to be the seat of our will, emotions and really the sum of body, soul and spirit. Proverbs 4:23 states it like this:

” Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”.

Which is understandable when one considers that it is the human heart on which God has written his law. This is demonstrated in both Jeremiah 31 and Romans 2.

” … I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts …” Jeremiah 31:33

” …the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness … Romans 2:15

So we see from dozens of Bible verses how important the human heart is in our relationship with God. And how widely accepted the heart is as a symbol of love and devotion. Valentine’s Day is now less than a month away and the stores are already bursting with heart shaped candies and cards of every description demonstrating the indelible connection between the heart and our emotions especially when it comes to love.

So, when I read the story this week of the first human heart transplant using the heart of a pig it gave me pause for thought.

Yes, on January 7th of this year doctors successfully transplanted the heart of a genetically engineered pig into a man who was in desperate need of a heart transplant. According to the story (which you can read here) the recipient was not a candidate for a human heart for a number of reasons all of which are documented in the article.

Now, it’s interesting to note that pigs in the Bible are designated as unclean and not just because they wallow in mud … actually any thing with out a cloven hoof (the horse, for example) and fish without fins (such as oyster, clams and shrimp) are designated unclean so it really has nothing to do with the sanitary or rather unsanitary practices of swine or any other creature. In fact, swine are prone to wallow in mud as I understand it for cooling purposes due to lack of sweat glands. Still, a pig wallowing in mud (and prone to eating garbage) is a great visual of a heart and life mired in the garbage of this world apart from God.

PROPHETIC IMPLICATIONS

Although valves harvested from swine have been in use for the treatment of heart disease for a number of years this would be the first time in history that an entire heart was replaced by that of an animal; an unclean one at that with the exception of course of Nebuchadnezzar who was given the heart of a beast for a period of time by God himself. With the understanding of how the heart is viewed by God a case can arguably be made that what has occurred here is not simply a breakthrough or stride forward in modern medicine but a line that has been crossed.. perhaps even what might be considered the “Abomination causing desolation” … “standing, seated or placed” …. where it ought not be” violating a place which God has designated as “set-apart, sacred or holy”.

“Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

Now, we know that this particular verse is speaking about believers but the human body is also “set apart by God” for it is the heart of man where the law of God is inscribed (conscience) as opposed to that of a beast which has none.

AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

As most of us know in Matthew 24 Jesus tells us that the end of the age would be characterized by a number of signs one of the which was described ” as in the days of Noah”.

“But as the days of Noah were so shall also the coming of the son of man be” Matthew 24:37

It’s widely understood from scripture that the days of Noah were characterized by great wickedness but also something else; something quite strange … the mingling of seed – the DNA of man (those made in the image of God) with that of the fallen ones (angels) which is the primary reason all of humanity was destroyed with the exception of 8 – Noah and his family- the last ones whose gene pool remained without corruption. So we have the situation today where once again an attempt is being made (not just through surgery like the one under discussion) but primarily through injection … with the intention once again to accomplish what almost succeeded in Noah’s day …. truly, as the Bible declares: there is nothing new under the sun”.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee” Psslm 122:6

Waiting and watching with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy

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