Serious As A Heart Attack

coarse] jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4). Have you heard people using the phrase “Serious as a heart attack?” It is often used to add emphasis to one’s message. They could have just said “I’m serious about that.” Although most of the time it is used frivolously or in jesting, we all know that heart attacks are serious business. Let’s look at a statistic on the seriousness of heart attacks: cardiovascular disease (CVD) is listed as the underlying cause of death for 868,662 deaths in the US in 2017. That’s about 2,380 deaths per day. That’s serious. For those who have had heart complications in the past, life becomes more precious to them. The same can be said for cancer survivors and those with other life-threatening infirmities. Do you know someone who is spiritually lost (living outside the will of God)? (Matthew 7:20) Jesus was not jesting when He said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). How serious are you about a neighbor or a loved one’s final destination? Their life is as precious to them as your life is to you. Are you afraid they will think you are a fanatic for telling them about Jesus? Are you embarrassed to tell them that Jesus saved your soul when you received Him by faith? (John 1:12). If a neighbor was having a heart attack, you would put a couple of aspirins under his tongue and call 911. As believers, we’re part of God’s life-saving mission and thankful to be used. We plant the seed and Jesus does the saving. We’re certainly not jesting about that. Tell ’em the story of our Jesus. Maybe they haven’t heard it. Jesus said, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24b).