Guard Your Heart
Recently, I met some new people and we quickly developed a friendship. We met for lunch and dinner on several occasions. They shared with me that they were part of a school for mediation and I became curious about the things they learned. They told me that they believed their lives were enriched by practicing heartfelt, mindful mediation. I like to mediate and I highly recommend this practice to others and mention it in my book, #No Fear to help others who struggle with anxiety and fear. I listened closely as they spoke and ran their words through my filter, my discerning, thought process.
One afternoon, they mentioned a project they were working on and I shared some suggestions with them which may help their project. They listened, discussed it and decided to use my recommendations. A few days later they let me know that they used my ideas and invited me to join their meeting and watch them as they did their presentation. I was thrilled for them and honored that they would invite me to their meeting.
I arrived to a crowded room and decided to sit in the last row. Before my friends did their presentation, the school officials conducted an initiation for some of its new members. I watched and listened closely and was sorely disappointed at what I heard. The school officials presented each person by name and then asked them to repeat their initiation creed. They each pledged their hearts to the way of this practice and to those teachers, the gurus who taught the school officials and whose teaching they practice. They asked each one if they would pledge their heart to the way of those teachers and practices.
As I listened, I knew that if it looks like a cult, and sounds like a cult, it is a cult. I was very sad for my friends who pledged their hearts to men and their practices. One of them walked over to me and said, “It’s not a cult, even though it looks like one.” I responded, “Yes, it sounds like one, and I already gave my heart to Jesus, and I don’t want to give it to anyone else.”
I walked out of that meeting confident of two things:
- Never trust my heart. We know this as we read Scripture: .Jeremiah 17, verse 9, KJV, tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? “ We often hear the phrase, follow your heart, and I want to tell you that is the worse advice we can hear and give to others. Our hearts are dark, deceitful, wicked, sinful, and are not capable to give us sound direction. That is why we need a Savior, we need Jesus to cleanse our dirty, sinful hearts. When we submit ourselves to Jesus, He cleanses our hearts, and we can serve Him.
- Guard your heart. We need to be mindful, aware, and conscience of what we give our heart to and live for since we must be purposeful in our actions. We know this as we read Scripture: “Keep heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of thy life”, as we read in Psalm 4, verse 23, KJV. I like the way the NLT translation of this verse: “Guard your heart, above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” This puts it ever so clear and simply, plain for us to comprehend.
I never want to be part of a cult with a self-appointed leader who demands I follow a set of strict teaching or pledge my heart. As I watched the participants of that meeting, it was so sad to me that intelligent individuals would give themselves over to such a man and his teachings. I wondered what is missing from their lives that they would blindly give themselves over to a man, his strict teachings and devote themselves to him, and believe that they are being spiritual. This is very sad and breaks my heart. They are blinded by their need to belong to something that they fall for this empty nothingness which will only lead them to a path of destruction. I prayed for each person in that room; that their eyes would be open to the truth. Our lives are not measured by how spiritual we are, or think we are, and we will not get to heaven because we chose to be spiritual.
We are sinners, all of us. We need salvation and we find that only through God’s Son, Jesus. He gave up His life in Heaven, to come to earth and walk among us, and make a way for us to be with God. We find salvation in none other than Jesus. He gave His life on the cross, He defeated sin, death, and hell for us. He broke free of the tomb and rose from the dead. He walked among us for some time and then ascended into Heaven, just as He promised. Jesus wants us to freely believe in Him, trust Him and honor Him. This is the plan of salvation; salvation through the only one who can save us.
A cult can never lead us to God, to Jesus or to Heaven. There are many paths, and many gods, little g; however, their teachings, those gurus can never lead us to the truth. Jesus is the only one: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and through Him and His sacrifice, we can find our way to God. Do not be fooled by the teachings of this world, do not assume being spiritual is vital to your salvation; do not give your heart over to false teachings. Be mindful, be purposeful to give your sinful heart to Jesus and allow Him to fill your heart with peace and joy. Be part of something incredibly special: be part of God’s family, be saved by the one who gave His life for you and who loves you more than you deserve or can ever imagine.
Then mediate on these things: anyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved; fill your mind with the things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report, as we read in Scripture in Philippians 4, verse 8. Take a moment, empty your mind of your sinful thoughts, call on the name of Jesus and sit in the stillness of His overwhelming, and quiet, Holy presence. Give Him your heart, and allow Him to fill your mind with truth.