Hot vs Cold

It’s funny to me how the reaction to hot and cold in the human brain works.

Doing some research on the matter, I have been able to conclude that the body senses temperature changes through specialized nerve endings called thermoreceptors, and they are located just beneath the skin.  These receptors are distributed throughout the body and are constantly transmitting temperature information to the brain.

There is a phenomenon called, “paradoxical heat” which in cold blasts produces a hot sensation in the body, thus confusing the human brain while it combines these two radical extremes one with the other.

I sensed it the other day when I was eating a plate of hot food.
I was wearing shorts at the time and the plate as on my lap.
On one side was the hot food straight out of the microwave, while on the other side was cold sour cream, straight out of the refrigerator.

When I sat the plate down on the lap I felt a slight discomfort from the heat, but what I noticed is that I couldn’t necessary discern between the hot and the cold.  Both actually felt “hot” to the exposed skin of my legs.  As it turns out, the receptors in my brain were firing in reaction to two extreme conditions, causing a conflict in my nervous system.

And it got me thinking.
Sometimes it is just so difficult to tell hot apart from cold.

For instance, we may know how inappropriate it is to surround ourselves with angry people, but we may not be quite as discerning of the damaging effect it has on our spiritual enthusiasm.
We may know how dangerous it is to engage in or even activate a heated political debate, and yet not understand, fully, the destructive ramifications it plays on Christ-centered relationships.
We may know how unbecoming it is to gossip and spread lies, but we may not realize the inconsistency we’re advocating, and the misrepresentation of Sonship we’re proclaiming with our words.

We don't always know the damaging impact because each extreme feels the same.

And it’s usually the result of an un-renewed heart.
It’s what Peter saw in the life of Simon who wanted the power of the Holy Spirit apart from heart change.  Peter says, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking Gods gift can be bought!  You have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God.”

It's always a heart issue.
And to the un-renewed heart and the un-changed soul… hot and cold in their respective extremes, will always feel the same.

It’s why we must be vigilant over the guarding of our, “heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  (Prov 4:23)
It’s why we must watch over and protect our investments, especially what we do and say, “Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.”  (Ps 141:3)
It’s why we must “guard the good deposit.”  (2 Tim 1:14)

We must discern between hot and cold, good and evil, right and wrong.
We must know where to “properly plant our feet”, so that we might “walk in the goodness of the Lord all the days of our lives.”  (Prov 23:6)

There is a real enemy who would like us to fail, but it doesn’t always happen blatantly.  He doesn’t always appear to us with a pitchfork and horns.  Often he comes disguised with glitter and lace.  And most of the time he arrives in places where we feel most comfortable and whispers in a tone that seems inviting and almost sincere, “Did God really say that?”  (Gen 3:1)

Keep watch, for where there are tares, lest they be confused for wheat! (Matthew 13:24-30).