It was the first time I met my neighbor, who had just moved in a few days before. He told me he had heart trouble and had sold his business on the advice of his doctor.

He seemed quite surprised when I said, "Yes, I know, and I understand you were born with a bad heart."

Emphatically he replied, "Oh no, I had a heart attack just a year ago! Before that my heart was perfect."

"But," I added, "I read just this morning that you were born with heart disease." I referred him to what God says about the sinful human heart and the need of a new heart. It was the first time he had heard the real diagnosis of his heart condition.

My good neighbor had physical heart trouble, but his spiritual heart condition was a much more serious problem. We all have this problem because Adam introduced sin into the human race (Rom. 5:12-14). The prognosis for this heart trouble is more than physical death--it is spiritual death as well (Rom. 6:23).

There is only one remedy. A "new heart" must be supplied by the Great Physician, Jesus. He does His work in us as we acknowledge our heart trouble and let Him operate by His grace and give us eternal life.

What's the condition of your heart?  — M.R. De Haan