• Jul 21st, 2015 at 9:56 AM (CST)
• By PD
• Categories:

Last Tuesday I had a procedure done at the hospital, an atrial ablation, which basically means that radio waves were introduced to the atrium of my heart to scarr some electrically conductive tissue such that it would no longer send a signal to my ventricle to contract. The section of the atrium which needed to be ablated was conflicting with another, such that my atrium was "fluttering" at three times the normal rate!

I have written previously about this incident, but now, a week following the procedure, I look back and consider how in danger I was! If my atrium had not consistently sent the signal every third flutter to my ventricle, I would have had a racing heart and rapidly moved toward cadiac arrest or cardiac failure! In other words, if not for the rock solid consistency of that irregular rhythm I could have dropped dead! Now that the procedure is done theoretically I no longer face that possibility.

A simple but profound thought occupies my mind in regards to the heart condition, its discovery and treatment. I was completely unaware of the atrial flutter. There were subtle signs of trouble, such as being able to remain on a stepmill exercising for only 20 minutes or so versus the previous 30 minutes. I discounted that as getting old, being in poor shape, etc. It was in reality a sign of something physiologically wrong.

I wonder how many people know they are in spiritual danger, that they have a "condition" of sinfulness which is deadly? I wonder how many a blithely going about their lives not knowing they have a "time bomb" ticking regarding their future? In a moment their life might be required of them and they will stand before Jesus, the Judge of all humanity. Just as I might have been a victim of my own ignorance - and foolishness, had I continued to refuse to get a colonoscopy, where the heart condition was exposed - these individuals are "ignorant" of their spiritual condition. In reality, they have heard the Gospel call, the call to repent and submit their lives to Christ. But, like me for a while, they refuse, thinking they're fine. That is a deadly game to play.

The Scriptures discuss the call to repentance as getting "a new heart" (Ezekiel 18:30-32) and King David lamented his sin of adultery and murder by saying to the Lord, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10)." We ALL have a "heart condition" due to the wicked DNA of sin within us, and we all need a procedure of repentance and restoration of forgiveness from God.

It's best to admit is now and get it done, before the ticking time bomb goes off.