15/ The Heart Condition
The old Roman road from Jerusalem to Jericho divides the rolling hills, home of the Bedouins, then climbs higher and higher, till the traveller sees a vast expanse of mountain ranges on the horizon. As you glance down into the gorge the layers of cream and brown rock give an indication as to how ancient the area is.
The only sign that there is life in these gorges is a monastery clinging to the mountain side. The blue roof and white walls contrast sharply with the beige rock surrounding it. As Jesus travelled along the only road connecting Jerusalem and Jericho, there must have been a hive of activity. That life, except for the tourist buses, which stop briefly, has drained away.
The human heart has much in common with these stony regions, for in many a Christian heart, the life blood has run out - if ever so gradually, only to leave rocky, barren unproductive lives. How true are the words of Jeremiah 4:18:
"Judah you have brought this on yourself, by the way you have lived and by the things you have done. Your sin has stabbed you through the heart."
Sadly the life blood drained out of two close friends of mine. Pride took over and they began to think they knew it all, especially when it came to the doctrine of Melchizedek. There are those who believe that Jesus was Melchizedek. This belief is utter blasphemy and an insult to Jesus. People base their views on Hebrew 7:2&3. What they fail to see is that there is a record of Jesus' parents - God the Father and Mary the mother. There is also a definite record of Jesus' birth and death. Melchizedek is referred to as being, "like the Son of God". Jesus Christ is the Son of God!
To say Jesus lived as Melchizedek would involve reincarnation - Hinduism, and instead of coming the second time, he would be coming the third time. First in the body of Melchizedek, then as the baby Jesus, then as the victorious Lord coming to claim his own. Hebrews 7:26,27 clearly reveals who Jesus is:
26/ Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs. He is holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinners and raised above the heavens.
27/ He is not like other high priests; he does not need to offer sacrifices every day for his own sins first and then for the sins of the people. He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself.
If we say that Jesus was Melchizedek we insult him, because Melchizedek would have had to offer sacrifices for his sins. Jesus is and always has been sinless.
I tried to tell my friends that their belief was wrong. Arrogantly they told me that they had heard some evangelist preach it on television and as he would know more than I did, he was right and I was wrong. (Be careful what you listen to on television, there are many cults who broadcast so-called Christian programmes). God gave me the following prayer for them.
"Ask God to open their eyes to the truth about Melchizedek and that God give them insight and knowledge to the wrong they are doing. Rebuke the blindfold Satan has put on their eyes and the puncture in the heart allowing the blood and love of the Lord Jesus to flow out. Ask God to heal the puncture and allow them once more to become whole Christians like the Lord Jesus Christ."
Gradually I could see religion replacing their simple faith in Jesus. I have not seen them for many years, but I hope they realised their mistake and renewed their friendship with Jesus.
At Calvary the blood drained out of Jesus' body and he died giving his life for us. Some people only remember that fact at Easter. The rest of the year Jesus is forgotten. A good friend of mine actually placed a price on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
While visiting Val one day, I found her to be very angry. When asked the reason for her anger she replied. "Roland has been to the Stanwell Tops nudist beach again." The words she spoke were full of jealousy.
I pointed out to my friend that she was jealous. She thought about what I had said and then tried to defend his actions. "Oh well, he doesn't do anything, he just goes up there for a look. Nonetheless, I don't like it."
Later on in the visit I commented on the repulsive Buddha she had sitting on the lounge-room table. Annoyed, Val replied that she had no intention of throwing the Buddha out; as it had been a birthday present from Roland, costing $65. "Besides", she added, "I don't pray to it, I just look at it."
At that point God spoke to me.
I am a jealous God and I don't tolerate any rivals. (Exodus 20:5).
Is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ only worth $65?
Even though Val only looked at the Buddha, God didn't like it, as he is a jealous God. Val was also jealous simply because her husband looked at naked women at the nudist beach. Previously Val had claimed to be a Christian, in fact she was only religious putting a price on the precious blood of Jesus.
In order for jealousy to occur, there has to be first love. As we cannot even imagine the love God has for us, since he sent his Son to die for us, how can we understand the jealousy God feels towards his creation, when they so openly reject him?
God allowed me to feel, how at times we grieve him. My oldest daughter during her teenage years had often grieved me. One night as I was sitting in bed crying over her hurtful behaviour, God spoke to me. "But you still love her, don't you? It's like that with me, many times my children hurt me, but I still love them."
How should we love God?
"Tell the people to ask Me to pour my love into their hearts, so that they can love Me the way I want them to love Me. Without my love in their hearts, to help them love Me, they will not be able to love Me as I want them to."
God revealed the above to me, during Bible study one night.
1/ Fiji
2/ Egypt
3/ Israel
4/ Papua New Guinea
5/ Forgive or I cannot forgive you
6/ Jesus still heals today
7/ Suicide
8/ Long Bay Gaol
9/ Attempted murder
10/ Bathurst Gaol
11/ Angels
12/ How to pray
13/ Cords
14/ Counting the cost
15/ The heart condition
16/ Lorraine
17/ Dracula - fact or fiction
18/ If you love me
19/ Being gay
20/ Faith
21/ Roots
22/ Malaysia
23/ Fiji revisited - 1997
24/ What Jesus means to me
25/ My diary entries
26/ Conclusion