Love Has a Name

What is one of the biggest lies that you can think of? This may not be something you think of a lot. I would imagine that not everyone walks around day by day thinking, “I wonder what lie I will be told today.”

I don’t think that’s a normal thought to have and probably not a healthy one. If we are to  constantly be thinking that people are lying to us we could very easily become bitter and resentful of everything and everyone. Therefore the discernment process is very important for each and every one of us. Scouring Scripture, seeking wise counsel and our trusted brothers and sisters within the body of Christ keeps us on the level and helps us to avoid pitfalls and to steer away from the lies thrown at us from the Father of Lies.

Having said that, what do you think it is? The biggest lie, or at very least one of the biggest, would be “follow your heart.”

Sounds pretty good! After all we as humans innately want to do good and this in turn makes us feel good. So, how then is this a lie?

Well let me explain my point of view.

Growing up I wanted to do good and give back to my community, my country and to the world. I did just that. I followed my heart, my dreams and my desires and I achieved plenty of good things at the expense of much pain and hurt to myself and others.

Alongside all that good, though, were plenty of negatives. My heart wanted good all the while it also wanted alcohol, among other unhealthy desires.

But, this is what I wanted. I followed my heart and listened to my feelings only and succumb to the pain and suffering of alcoholism.

My heart let me down.

It took me many years to overcome this and only through faith in Jesus Christ have I experienced any type of reprieve from this desire to drink alcohol. I’m not perfect by any means however I am substantially removed from a life consumed by consuming alcohol.

So then if we believe that following our own heart is a lie what do we follow? How do we move forward in life?

Simple. We don’t.

I am a strong believer of not moving forward but moving upward. I want to move and direct my thoughts and my desires to Jesus Christ. The one and only perfect God, divine King and sovereign Saviour. I crave an upward movement to the Kingdom of God for myself, my family and each and every soul on the planet.

Let me share 3 passages which help me to move upward and forward.

Colossians 3:2 (ESV) shares this:

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

I meditated on this simple verse and thought how true it is. If I set my mind on things here on earth will it not all disappear at some point? Money, a house, a relationship, a car. All of these will pass away or can easily be taken from me. Jesus Christ however is eternal and has defeated death, overcome the grave, and will endure for all time.

Next I came to Proverbs 12:15 (ESV). This confirmed within me the need for discernment and trusted friends and brothers in Christ.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Whether the advice comes from the Father or from my brothers and sisters I strive to take it all with an honest, sincere and open heart. If I am unable to take or listen to criticism or I believe I am the only one who knows the best for myself and the world then I am replacing the need for God with myself, a dangerous title to take and impossible mandate to live up to.

Finally Proverbs 14:12 (NIV). This one spoke to me directly as I looked at my life and my history. Everything felt right, looked right and resulted with mostly good results, until the end where I realized my heart led me to alcoholism.

“There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.”

I did what I wanted and followed my heart however this led me toward death and destruction. Yes I may have done a lot of good and helped a lot of people. However, none of that led me toward eternal life.

We cannot buy, purchase, work for, earn or deserve our salvation. It is simply not possible and not biblical. We can however fall madly, deeply and truly in love with Jesus Christ and the plans he has for us to prosper us and not to harm us. Plans to give us hope and a future. (Sneaky Jeremiah 29:11 here)

His mind, thoughts and plans for us are perfect and realistic. Realistic I added to the description because we are told that we will suffer, face persecution and need to overcome many challenges. This even just sounds more likely compared to, “all will be good, you’ll never face any obstacles and it’s all just going to be peachy.”

I am happy to face an obstacle when I know one is eventually coming. I am also encouraged that my God, the Saviour of the world has told me that I am his and I cannot be taken away from him and He calls me by name.

Only through the saving grace found in Jesus Christ can we face the world and all of it’s temptations and brokenness with full confidence in a life of eternal communion.