A heart like mine
Miranda Lambert has a hit song on the country charts right now called A Heart Like Mine. It's an excellent example of spiritual rationalization and selfishness.
Here are the lyrics (I've included a video link below):
I ain’t the kind you take home to mama I ain’t the kind to wear no ring Somehow I always get stronger When I’m on my second drink
Even though I hate to admit it Sometimes I smoke cigarettes Christian folks say I should quit it I just smile and say “God bless”
‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine And I bet we’d get along just fine He could calm a storm and heal the blind And I bet He’d understand a heart like mine
Daddy cried when he saw my tattoo Said he’d love me anyway My brother got the brains of the family So I thought I’d learn to sing
‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine And I bet we’d get along just fine He could calm a storm and heal the blind And I bet He’d understand a heart like mine
I’ll fly away From it all one day I’ll fly away
These are the days that I will remember When my name’s called on the roll He’ll meet me with two long-stemmed glasses Make a toast to me coming home
‘Cause I heard Jesus, He drank wine And I bet we’d get along just fine He could calm a storm and heal the blind And I bet He’d understand a heart like mine
Oh, yes He would
Miranda, Jesus does understand your heart. And that's why He has lovingly offered you His. Your heart... my heart... all our hearts are hardened by sinfulness and selfishness.
In fact, our hearts are the problem, Miranda. You wouldn't want a surgeon to use a dirty scalpel on you during surgery. Neither can you appeal to your heart as a defense against allowing God to change your life.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts." (1 John 5:21)
"Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. 'All of you listen,' he said, 'and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.' And then he added, 'It is what comes from inside that defiles you... For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.'" (Mark 7:14-15, 20-23)
One thing I think you've got right, Miranda, is that Jesus would love to spend time with you. And yes, He understands. He made you, and He loves you. But as catchy as your song is melodically, let's not allow ourselves to elevate our own hearts above God's.
It's not our heart and its concerns that matter. It's His heart. Rather than "a heart like mine," let's hope for a heart like His.