Our Tell-Tale Hearts

Many of you are familiar with Edgar Allen Poe's "A Tell-Tale Heart" short story. Perhaps it was a mandatory read in high school as it was for me. The story tells of a murder committed that one feels good about until he realizes his guilt beating heavy like a heart within him. A guilt that reveals his secret.

I'm saddened by the results of this election. However the results I'm mournfully reflecting on aren't those produced by electoral or popular votes; by results what I'm referring to is the heart of Believers that has been revealed by the words shared on social media during this time. This heart has beat loudly up and down my timeline for months. And finally last night and this morning, the beating got so loud, I could barely take it. [Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks]

We are the Ones chosen by God, redeemed to not only look LIKE Him but to reflect Him so much that we sound and react differently than the world does. So what did non believers say of this election? What were their responses during the debates? Did we agree and add to their thoughts? Could they tell us apart from them? Or were we like the man in Tell-Tale heart, proudly compiling our thoughts and profoundly composing words to articulate those thoughts in hopes to be heard and deemed "woke"!?

I understand the need to "stay woke"; in today's society that's highly esteemed and I'm sure to some degree God even advices we not be naive but where does our carnal knowledge ("wokeness" if your will) submit to our Spiritual understanding? Should our hearts (full of Christs love, overflowing with compassion and hope) beat like theirs (ones searching for hope and yet lacking it)?

Months ago I was led to study 1 & 2 Kings. Not from a cerebral standpoint but just because I tend to find nuggets to apply to my life in the New Testament and I was curious as to what the Old had to offer. I was amazed daily as I read chunk by chunk of Kings who "did what was evil in Gods sight..." and learned several subtle yet relevant truths hidden in those enticing stories. I was floored at the applicable lessons I could learn and apply to my life today, from ancient history. One of the biggest themes was how God allowed so much (that He didn't agree with) in efforts to teach His prophets and people who HE is and what He's capable of.

Book/chapter      King                                           Prophet
1 Kings 11          King Rehoboam (vs 15) ...        Shemaiah
1 Kings 16          King Ahab (17:1)...   Elijah, Elisha & Micaiah

2 Kings 3            King Joram (vs 2) ...                  Elijah
2 Kings 8            King Jehoram (vs 19)...             Elisha

Each one of these Kings (and countless more...seriously there's a separate book of accounts of all the Kings that reigned over Israel and Judah for hundreds of years) were notorious for their evil and yet in the verses listed in parenthesis, it was noted that God allowed their reign for His purpose! Furthermore what other purposes surrounded both chapters? The notion that God sent His messengers to look, sound and act differently than those who didn't respect God and He purposes for them to speak of Him and for Him in the midst of these rulers.

Regardless of how you feel about the candidates, the stories/evidence shared about them or even what you may know to be true...doesn't negate that anyone elected (whether in time past or future) was (and will be) within Gods knowledge and will (perfect or permissive). Scripture was written to teach us that.

This realization should comfort us and cause us to speak both encouragement and hope rather than negative (albeit truths) about parties. The truths nations (Gods people) were subjected to for years and often with back to back reigns of harsh rulers, didn't change the purpose God had for His people. Who God allows to reign over us is in His hands and for His purpose. This too was illustrated thousands of years ago, for our example-for nothing new exists under the sun.

[The Kings heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He turns it wherever He pleases]

Seek Him for that purpose. May the Lord extend grace to us as we learn to extend it towards others. May He empower us to be a light in His calculated darkness. May this be an opportunity for the lost to see a difference in us, so they find Him!

References: Prov 21:1
Isaiah 10:5-8
Luke 6:45