“COLONOSCOPY OF THE HEART” – Sept. 17
September 17, 2013“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:11-13
I have an anniversary to celebrate. This year is my ten year anniversary of being cancer free.
I am celebrating with a colonoscopy!
I realize that a colonoscopy is not much of a celebration but one thing I learned about cancer is that it is best to catch it early. I hate getting a colonoscopy but that is the best method for catching cancer of the colon early.
I hated having cancer more than the procedure. Therefore, I will drink the cocktail that will liquefy the contents of my gut. I will allow a camera to travel a passage that should have remained secret. I will relinquish a productive day to anesthesia’s groggy recovery since I have no desire to watch the live action.
I don’t get a colonoscopy because I like them. I get a colonoscopy because I don’t want to die from colon cancer.
How foolish is it to refuse to have a colonoscopy because the procedure is uncomfortable and embarrassing?
How foolish is it to refuse to act when the colonoscopy reveals a growth?
Sometimes, the word of God feels like a colonoscopy.
“Oh Lord, don’t go there!” is my thoughts when the Word pierces into the secrets of my intentions and thoughts. I do not particularly like it when the duplicity of my heart is revealed. I am not fond of being exposed to the eyes of Him to whom I must give account.
I come to the word of God and allow it to do its work because I don’t want die in unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)
No one can fool the probing inspection of God. All of our attitudes, thoughts, biases, and agendas are exposed to the Great Physician’s examination. However, we can harden our hearts when we hear God’s diagnosis. We can justify our disobedience. We can rationalize our rebellion. We can close His Word and refuse to acknowledge His authority.
How foolish is it to refuse to expose your heart to God’s word because you know the process will be uncomfortable and embarrassing?
How foolish is it to refuse to act when our unbelief and disobedience is revealed?
God has given us His word for our own good. He has not left us in our rebellion. Most of the time, I don’t like what His word shows me about myself but I know if is for my own good. Therefore, I try to come to His word with a soft heart. I want Him to do His work in me. I know that polyps of unbelief still reside in me. I want them removed. I know that the remainder of my spiritual walk on this earth will entail the uncomfortable and embarrassing examinations of the word of God.
I want that. I need that, daily. Therefore, I will echo the words of David:
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7b)
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for softening my heart. Thank you for your Spirit and your Word that reveal the unbelief of my heart. Help me in my unbelief. Continue to remove the cancer of disobedience and rebellion from my being. Do your work in me. I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A DEVOTED LIFE 
I have been thinking how not taking the Prescription….ALL of it does not allow the cancer to be seen….so it is with the Holy Scriptures. We must take enough of the prescription to allow the “answer” to be seen….a spiritual book is good, an uplifting TV evangelist is good…but Holy Scripture is THE prescription…I guess if someone were to ask me is the prescription for a verse a chapter…I would not know the exact amount but if it is not enough for things to be seen in our lives that need changed then probably you are not taking the prescribed dose…..just a thought!
Thank you for bringing this to light. Really good illustration. Just had my Colonoscopy….yuck! I Praise God for your healing😇
Congratulations on your decade of being cancer-free! Let’s pray it stays that way!
I get those regularly too, but I agree- they are no fun. The colonoscopy of the heart is something I agree that we all could use with even more regularity.
It is interesting how comments that seem totally off the wall ring so true. May the Lord continue to shine His light in all of our dark places looking for the cancers that lurk in the depths of our lives.
Indeed, cancers of the spirit wreak tremendous havoc, even in Christians. You pray against rebellion and disobedience; I’d have to add pride and selfishness. Thank you for the spiritual consultation, JD! Now, Lord, please perform the surgery!
Congrats on being cancer free! And of all the things I have heard compared to the Word, a colonoscopy certainly wins ‘Most Creative’! 🙂
So glad you are well. Great news. I had my students memorize Heb. 4:12 to start off our year…the Bible does just that – cuts right to the heart of the matter! Thank you!
Thank you Lord for JD’s ten years cancer free. Thank you for teaching him so much, so he can share it with others. Thank you for his ministry. Amen.
Ann Marie – thank you so very much for the kind and thoughtfull prayer. It is very appreciated.
God Bless!
JD
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Such a great analogy. Thank you for sharing this…thank you for making this so real and plain. Thank God for your 10 years!
Great post! It certainly spoke to me! How foolish it is when I put off being in the word to do other things, saying I will read later. Sometimes bedtime comes and that opportunity to be in the world “later” has flown out the window.
A good illustration!
Great lesson today! Thanks for sharing such a clear and vivid image of our Great Physician.
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