Our lives have changed. In April of this year, as we discovered that Caleb had congenital heart disease, we have been immersed in a whirlwind of transition, information gathering, and critical decision making. Part of this process necessitates learning as much as possible about congenital heart disease in general, and Caleb’s condition, tricuspid atresia, specifically. One of my first thoughts was that although Caleb (and us) would have to deal with a physical heart problem, every man and woman must deal with their own spiritual heart problem. As our minds have been churning, we have thought of several similarities between a physical heart defect and spiritual heart defects. Here are five.
Every baby with a heart defect is different.
Only one percent of babies are born with a congenital heart defect. (Contrast that with spiritual heart disease, which claims the souls of one out of one people.) Although there are many different classifications of congenital heart disease, atrial septal defect, transposition of the great arteries, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, to name a few, each child’s condition remains unique to that child; each heart is different.
Spiritually, each of our hearts are wicked; we’re born that way. Jesus said in Mark 7:21-23, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” I believe also, while we are all in the same category of separated from God, each of our specific sinful history is different; no two people have exactly the same sin, or better put, the same set of sins. Your primary sin may be that of a thief, mine might be that of a murderer. We both have a spiritual heart defect that needs repair, but our defects are slightly different. Each man, each woman is unique.
The surgeon is very good at what he does.
Dr. Redmond Burke, who operated on my eight-day-old son Caleb Elijah, is one of the top pediatric heart surgeons in the world. Harvard trained, he built the program at Miami Children’s Hospital into arguably the second best in the nation, behind Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He operates on approximately three hundred children a year with an amazing rate of success. Nobody likes placing their child on the operating table, but if they need heart surgery, Dr. Burke would be a good choice to do it.
Acts 16 documents the story of Lydia, a businesswoman from Thyatira, who underwent spiritual heart surgery. It is written that, “the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” Jesus performs heart surgery. He is very good at it. Like all of the assistants to the surgeon, and there are many for each operation, pastors, evangelists, Sunday school teachers, and prayer warriors, assist the Master Surgeon as He opens the heart of the spiritually sick person and brings a healing.
Recovery after surgery can be a long process.
One of the lowest points during our long hospital stay with Caleb came the day after surgery. We expected there to be no complications. We were wrong. It was late on a Thursday morning when an entourage of doctors, nurses, technicians zoomed over to Caleb and starting making a bunch of decisions about how they were treating him. For the next couple days, he was pretty sick; recovery seemed like a distant wish. Today, as I write this, almost a week after surgery, I can look over at my son and see a much healthier little baby.
Discipleship is a lifelong process. All along the road to our ultimate recovery in heaven, we have medical (spiritual) personnel to help us. We have the medication of the word, or prayer, of church to help us grow in our faith. I have met some who seem to grow quickly, but for the most part spiritual maturity happens slowly, hopefully steadily, and sometimes painfully. Patience is a companion of growth. As Psalm 27:13 says, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Going left untreated, most heart defects will result in death.
If Caleb Elijah Sieler was born fifteen to twenty years ago, it’s likely he would not have survived this long. The medical knowledge simple wasn’t there for his surgery and recovery. Additionally, if he had not had surgery a week ago, he probably would either be dead, or very, very sick right now. Instead, besides his scar on his chest, when he’s fully recovered, you would never know that he has a heart disease.
Likewise, for those who never undergo spiritual heart surgery to remedy the problem of sin, a terrible, tragic, future awaits them. This was written about ages ago by a wise seer named Solomon.
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. (Ecclesiastes 9:3).
Repaired hearts are miracles.
We have spent now almost two full weeks hanging out in the CICU at Miami Children’s Hospital. Everyday we have been around very sick babies, and nearly fully recovered babies. We have heard amazing stories. Tears have come easily. We have rejoiced with fellow parents, our new friends. We have had to find a little corner somewhere to weep when it just becomes too much.
To see a healthy baby right out of the womb is an amazing experience. To watch a newborn baby go from critical condition, attached to a multitude of machines, not able to breathe on it’s own, receiving a myriad of medications to a contented little bundle of beauty coddled by their parents is an absolutely astounding miracle. Life is fragile. Life is precious.
When someone is reborn, when they enter into the family of God, it is a beautiful miracle. They are like a precious, innocent little baby embraced by a heavenly Father who delights in them. When they open their eyes, the look into parents who are not just grateful for the miracle of life, but are thankful for the miracle of a new heart. Perhaps this is something of what Jesus was looking forward to when He said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
