“Frosty the Snowman” might be fun to sing during the holidays, but frostbite is not something that I’ve heard anyone going around singing about. In fact, it’s always associated with some traumatic physical issue that is directly related to an exposure to extreme cold.
Recently someone told me that frostbite occurs because the body is responding to a threatening situation, and it reacts by sending more blood to the essential parts of the body (like the heart and brain), thus shutting down the flow of blood to the extremities. Of course there also is damage that occurs when parts of the body are directly exposed to extreme cold for a prolonged period of time.
It reminds me of a seemingly harsh statement by Jesus, when He suggested that it would be better to “cut it off” (referring to the hand), or “gouge it out” (referring to the eye). He further explained, “It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell” (Matthew 5:30 NIV).
Theologians could debate for weeks over this one, but I would like to suggest that if we do not discern and manage the critical issues that seek to shape or destroy the heart and mind, then we stand in danger of more than minimal loss. Those decisive intersections chart the course for life or death … of a life, a marriage, a ministry. If the body responds naturally to preserve itself, shouldn’t we who are spiritual respond decisively to preserve the essential spiritual core that the Lord has given us?
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” -Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)
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By: Glenn Burris Jr., general supervisor
