Sermon Central
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What Did You Find When You Opened My Heart?
Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023 (message contributor)
Here’s a story about a little boy that was to have heart surgery. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed and his parents sat across from him. The surgeon said to the little boy, "Tomorrow morning, I'll open up your heart." The little boy interrupted the surgeon and said; "You'll find Jesus there." The surgeon looked annoyed and continued, "I'll cut your heart open to see how much damage has been done." The little boy quickly said, "But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus there." The surgeon looked at the parents, ignoring the little boy, "When I see how much damage has been done, I will know what to do next." Again, the little boy said, "But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."
The surgeon had enough and said to the little boy, "I'll tell you what I'll find there as a doctor. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. I'll find out if I can make you well or not." Once again, the little boy said, "And You'll find Jesus there. He lives there."
After the surgery, the surgeon sat in his office recording his notes from the surgery: "Damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:," he paused before recording his next words, "death to the patient within one year."
He stopped his recorder and sat there. Then he asked aloud, "God, whoever You are, Why? Why did You do this? You put him here. You put him in this pain. You cursed him to an early death. Why?" Then the Lord began to speak to the heart of the surgeon: "You don’t see what I can see. This boy was not meant to live long on this earth. He belongs to Me and soon he will be with Me forever." Hot tears started running down the surgeon's face and in anger he said aloud, "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why? You are supposed to be a loving God."
Then the Lord spoke to the heart of the surgeon, "I sent that boy to you for a purpose…..to reach you and make you one of My children. That is why he is here.”
Sometime later the surgeon sat down beside the little boy's bed; the parents sat across from him. The little boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?" "Yes," said the surgeon. "What did you find?" asked the little boy.
The surgeon brushed away a tear and said, "Son, I want you to know what I found when I opened your heart…..I found Jesus living in your heart. I found Jesus there.”
- Precept Austin
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