Unclean

I was skimming through articles on the Internet when I ran onto one published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that caught my attention ... "323 Million At Risk Of Disease From Dirty Water." I said to myself, "In 2019?" The article went on to say that out of these millions of people, not some, but all will die from diseases or conditions such as cholera, typhoid, polio, diarrhea, etc. associated with pathogens in the water. Again I said to myself, "In 2019??"
I was surprised to learn that The Ohio River is the most polluted river in the United States followed by the Mississippi, Tennessee, Cuyahoga (Ohio), Holston (Tennessee), Harpeth (Tennessee), and the New River (N. Carolina, VA and West VA). Even Canada's beautiful massive Lake Winnipeg covering an area nearly 10,000 miles and 250+ miles in length was named the most threatening lake in the world. The biggest problem for Canada's lake is agricultural runoff because of the nitrates used in fertilizers and pesticides, particularly phosphorus. For years, the reduction of chemical detergents suggested pollution turn around, and some of the most badly affected waters, such as Lake Erie, were brought back to relatively good health. However, in recent years the visible damage has returned in the form of toxic, invasive algae blooms like the red blooms that affect Florida's coastline between October and April every year. So much pollution! I had no idea. Our lakes, rivers, and streams are becoming cesspools of death.

I was thinking to myself how this happens and how fast it has taken place since I've been born. We know when it rains, it either seeps into the ground or becomes runoff, which flows downhill into rivers and lakes on its journey to the seas. Then, as small creeks flow downhill they merge to form larger streams and rivers. Rivers as we know from geography, eventually end up flowing into the oceans. So where am I going with all this? According to Jesus, even the human heart is a cesspool ... one of evil and it overflows like a stream, the runoff going into our words and deeds. Our world is polluted by the toxic buildup of our hearts. It really is. If we are honest with ourselves, we can admit the problem isn't political (though the progressive Left would tell you that), and it can't be solved by political means. It's certainly not a legal problem because all the laws and ordinances in the world can't solve it. It's not educational. If every person on this planet had a doctorate degree, we would still have a corrupt culture. And last, it's not a financial problem; and if everyone were a millionaire we would still be in trouble! Money cannot solve a heart/spiritual problem. Jeremiah 17:9 KJV "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Moral hearts lead to moral hands, Proverbs 4:23 NIV "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Only a transformed life brings holy habits. The Holy Spirit does the work in us when we come to Jesus as followers of Him, Ezekiel 36:26 KJV "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." What does this mean? A new heart is a new disposition of mind, renewed by the Word of God, vastly different than what your mind and thinking were before ...changed from sinful to holy, from carnal to spiritual; a heart where God's laws are written, abide and dwell. They are welcomed! What does it mean by giving you a heart of flesh? It means when we have been transformed, our stubbornness and rebellious hearts become soft and tender, with a willingness to walk in God's way and obey what He asks, happily compliant to His will. When we surrender to live this life of renewal, He powerfully gives us the strength to walk in His ways, without regret, without dread, without remorse or disappointment.

A transformed life brings holy habits. It isn't enough to turn over a new leaf, pass a new law, elect a new president, or create a new slogan. The only answer is a new heart 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." Are you IN Christ? Have things become new in your life? Are you still living your old life? Still practicing your old vices? Titus 3:3-6 says, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Until we decide to believe and come to Christ, our hearts will remain polluted and lost in a cesspool of sin. We are poisoning ourselves daily until we come and drink from the Living water, John 7:37 "He who BELIEVES IN ME (and if you love Me you'll keep my commandments-John 14:15), as the Scripture said, "'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water." I pray that believers in Christ have not returned to former sins, the former "toxic sludge," which was invasive throughout our being before we came to Christ!

One final word of warning ... Jesus is not returning for a bride with a spotted gown. He is coming for faithful, obedient ones who have kept themselves unspotted from the sins of the world. She is the one clothed in faithful works, fought the good fight of faith no matter how difficult it became, one who stayed true to her Lord and spiritual Husband; Jesus Christ. If you are not walking obediently according to God's will, then you are like the 5 virgins who carried no oil in their lamps. You will be found wanting (*lacking) at his coming. Your light will go out before He gets here. Remember, Jesus warned His followers to be "so-doing" when He comes (Matthew 24).
Until next time ...
-Pat-