Get The Rhyme and Reason PodcastDelivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

Here’s a quote that was included in a meme I saw being shared on social media this week. It said, “Do everything with a good heart and expect nothing in return, and you will never be disappointed.”

Seems like a “nice” Hallmark greeting card. But it falls flat.

Because you don’t have a good heart.

Now, don’t get your feelings hurt. Neither do I. And neither does anybody else. Even the people who think they do.

The Designer of human beings says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Yeah, that’s in the Bible. But, ouch! It doesn’t feel good to hear it. Right?

But why would God say such a thing about us?

Maybe (and I use that word loosely) it’s because He’s watched us for a few thousand years. And He’s seen what terrible ideas we come up with. And those ideas originate from the heart. Not the physical pump. But the very core of who we are. So, you can bet, that if God says we have a heart problem, we do.

It was this kind of perspective that triggered the following from almost ten years ago.

Imagine, for a minute, that there are 7 layers of the heart.

The first layer is a deep, dark indigo where the heart is conceived. The second layer is a rich, regal purple where the heart is created. Then, the third layer is a magnetic, cobalt blue where the shape of the heart is formed. Next, the fourth layer is a fertile, emerald green where love can grow. After that, the fifth layer is a warm, glowing orange where emotions are kindled. The sixth layer is a lilting yellow where faith and hope mingle. And the seventh layer is a luscious, rose red where the embers of life never die out.

Now, imagine all those layers of the heart are poured out quickly and form a beautiful work of art. And imagine everyone who walked by wanting to know who the artist was.

“Oh my,” says one passer-by. “I’ve never seen such spectacular colors. It must’ve taken the artist years to create such a masterpiece.”

But it just so happens, the artist is right behind the canvas in the next aisle. And he comes around to face the observer and says…

“Not at all. I created this piece before lunch one day.”

“Impossible,” replies the observer. “Because no one could create such a wonderful work of art in only a few hours.”

“And yet, I tell you I did.” The artist begins to appear frustrated. “And if you won’t believe me in this small matter, what would you ever believe?”

Here’s the deal…

I wrote this story about a heart to describe our beautiful layered world. The artist is actually the Creator of the universe and all the matter in it. He did that in 6 days. And when, in His wise judgment, He flooded the world one time about 4,000 years ago, many beautiful layers of sediment were deposited in many places. It all happened in days…not millions of years. And now, 4,000 years later, we can still see those amazingly parallel strata in places like the Grand Canyon.

It’s awesome to celebrate design in our world and universe.

Because it helps you to avoid a lifetime of uncertainty found in random chance. When you know you’re created, it can light up all the layers of your heart.

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other good stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,