Acts 28:27
“For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”
The doctor says, “Describe your problem to me.” The doctor is wanting to hear the symptoms so that he can get to the source of the problem. A customer goes to the mechanic and explains a noise or a symptom, and the mechanic uses the symptom to find the source of the problem. Once they understand the symptoms, then that will help them to identify the source of the problem.
Symptoms are only indicators of a greater problem. Paul showed the symptoms in the verse above, but he eventually got to the source. The symptom was that they were not being converted. The symptom was that they could not see things the way he saw them. The symptom was that they would not listen to what he said. Ultimately, the source was their heart was calloused to the Word of God. The problem with these people was simply a heart problem.
Oftentimes in Christianity we try to deal with the symptom without understanding the source. We see that people will not follow the old paths, so we change what we do because we think the old paths are the problem. We think because the masses don’t follow us that we are the problem, when in reality we are changing our methods because of the symptoms without going to the source of the problem.
The source of every problem is the heart. Friend, teenagers who won’t conform to the program are not conforming because of their heart. It is not that you need to make your youth programs more worldly, but what you need to do is to target their heart.
The reason that a few children of full-time servants go bad is not that their parents are too busy. The reason is not that their parents were too strict. The reason is not that they had bad experiences in the ministry. These are all excuses they use or symptoms they identify, but the ultimate problem is the heart.
The reason Christians become apathetic towards God is not because they are hurt. The reason Christians become unresponsive to old paths Christianity is not because it doesn’t help. The reason certain Christians become critical of the ministry and old paths Christianity is not because of preachers who have fallen. The ultimate source of their problem is the heart.
If all the excuses people used to react the way they do were the problem, then explain to me why other people can experience the same things and still serve God. We get too wrapped up in the symptoms and never identify that the heart is the whole source of the problem. The symptom simply shows that there is a heart problem that needs to be fixed. Until you fix the heart problem, the symptom will continue to flare up.
Christian, let me encourage you not to change from the old paths of Christianity to treat a symptom. Always stay true to the old paths and realize that every excuse only covers the heart problem. You don’t need to change what you are doing because others are explaining their symptoms. It ultimately comes down to one’s heart.
Furthermore, if you are one who is using your symptoms as an excuse, then it is time you truly deal with the source of your problem, your heart. All the excuses you use will never change until you deal with your heart. If you will change your heart, then you will find the symptoms you don’t like will go away. Always remember that every problem is a heart problem.