Acts 1:24 (ESV)
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
One of the most amazing experiences for me in my years of nursing was to witness a cardiac surgery. The cardiac surgeon called me to his side as he worked meticulously on the patient in one of the first open cardiac surgeries in the hospital I was serving then. Holding on to his operation apparatus, he gave me a guided tour of this most incredible chamber. I looked into this most delicate vital organ of our complex human anatomy and was just awed by the raw bloody sight of the throbbing heart. It was undeniably intricate, divinely woven and placed in the deep central of our human body to pump in rhythm to maintain a good blood circulation to the entire human body. Who can deny there is a Creative Creator of such intricate magnificent design with a specific purpose and function? The pronouncement of death of a person is based on the cessation of heartbeat.
Our physical life is sustained by a healthy, good functioning heart. The heart is expressed in the context of spiritual life too. It is given high priority in God’s eyes. He desires the best circulation in our spirit being, which flows out from the heart (Proverbs 4:23).
The disciples prayed to choose between two good men to replace the twelfth disciple. They were devoting themselves in prayer after the Lord’s ascension. The God they prayed to is a God who knows the hearts of men. Man are impressed with the outer appearance very easily but God examines intently to the depth of the heart (1 Sam.16:7). He is known in Greek as kardiognostes because he is the “… God, who knows the heart,” (Acts 15:8). The heart is the core of the spirit man, which stores up the hidden intentions, purposes, will, understanding and is infused with emotions. God declares in Jeremiah 17:10, “I the Lord search the heart…” He knows because he digs deep into it and detects the minute details which matter to him. “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27)
Our spirituality thrives when our heart is right with God. When the heart is well nourished and aligned with the will of God, it beats with the divine rhythm to give life to its entire wellbeing. The heart which is nourished by the Word of God and hydrated by His Spirit will beat healthily in sync with the Life Giver. It is real and fresh. Out of it flows an authentic spring of freshness that is irresistible and unstoppable. The Lord delights in it. Likewise he detects spiritual ill and beseech we come to him for healing. And he is definitely a miracle healer in the cases of spiritual death if it pleads for full restoration.
How is our heart? What is the condition?
Healthy – checked. Make sure it is examined regularly.
Any signs and symptoms that need attention?
Does it have a chronic disease? If a spiritual ECG is taken, what kind of rhythm will be displayed? Does it need treatment? Do we need to consult the Kardiognostes?
Today, let us have an appointment with the Kardiognostes.
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 6 May 2020.