And the Apple Does it Again!

In Greek mythology to throw an apple at someone was to symbolically declare one's love. Umm, I don't think that happened here in the story I am about to share with you. But first, what is it with the apple?

From the very beginning of time when Adam and Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, the apple became a symbol of everything evil with some good mixed in sort of like a fruit cocktail.  It became the object of good in the folklore of Johnny Appleseed. Then the apple became a fruit of evil in the story of Snow White.
 Martin Luther would use the apple in context with one of his greatest quotes,
 "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."

In most recent years, the apple has become the symbol of advanced technology. Thanks to Steve Jobs we now have Apple computers, ipads, ipods, and iphones to fulfill our every need so that we may function properly in today's society.

 Oh, and lest we forget, what would we do without AppleVacations during those harsh Midwestern winters?

Unfortunately, last week the apple would become the symbol of evil (hatred) again.

 Wheaton College is a top- ranked Christian liberal arts school in the western suburbs of Chicago. Last week the school found itself in the midst of controversy when, during a Town Hall chapel, a student flung an apple at another student who had asked about the school's theological stance on Wheaton's LGBT students.
 In the days to follow, the school found a couple of other unrelated disturbing acts on the school grounds which in turn affected the hearts and minds of the students. This, along with a discriminatory letter posted on the school's community board about the LGBT incident.

Thanks to Apple, excuse the pun, social media was a Titanic wave of all sorts of emotions from the student body all week. Everything from:
 Anger
Hostiltiy
Discouragement
Hatred
Resentment 
Grief
Brokenness

And, what do all of these emotions have in common? They are all emotions of the heart.

First off, you should not be surprised at the events that took place at this school. It is happening all across our nation's college campuses; and yes, even the Christian colleges. And secondly, I am staying away from the whole gay debate here, because what is more important here is fixing or what I would like to call restructuring  the hearts of these students.

How do you fix one's heart? It's pretty simple, just draw into the deep well of living water of the Living God.
One moment in God's presence can change a heart for a lifetime. When we come before God and ask Him,

"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)

,He hears you!

My hope and prayer for these students is someone takes the initiative to construct a place of worship, a time for seeking God's presence. None of us should be satisfied or content with where we are in Him. We all need to have a relentless pursuit of God, if anything, to keep our hearts and minds focused on Him. When we draw upon Him our hearts begin to change:

 In Your presence Lord there is peace, there is rest
In Your presence Lord there is life that never ends
In Your presence Lord there is joy, there is joy
In Your presence Lord there is life that never ends

- Jesus Culture, Walk With Me

I find it ironic that on the Wheaton Campus is the Billy Graham Center, and if you are familiar with the evangelist, you're then familiar with his famous tag-line quote at the end of each of his sermons and outreaches, "Come as you are."

In a similar fashion, whenever I teach about the heart, I often use the illustration of Jesus feeding the five thousand: Jesus did not ask each individual what race, nor religion, or what kind of sinner you are,
He simply fed them.

As for all college students who love and follow the One True Savior, education is important, but don't forget to feed your soul with what is really important.

 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field.   (1 Cor. 3:6-9)