Spiritual Heartburn

If you’ve ever had heartburn, let me see your hand? Not pleasant, is it? The serious kind is “acid reflux.” It feels like you’re having a heart attack. But praise God, there is relief available through medication.

I want to speak to you today for a few moments about spiritual heartburn—when your heart burns within you because of the presence of Almighty God! Unlike physical heartburn which brings misery, spiritual heartburn brings unspeakable joy.

One time, when I was on vacation, I saw an older couple walking hand-in-hand down a country road. I concluded that they had probably been married for many years and thought to myself that that was about the sweetest thing I had ever seen. It sent out definite messages concerning their ever-growing love for one another.

But let me tell you something better. The sweetest walk of all is to walk with Jesus. Amen? Our hymn writers have spoken of it often in songs like, “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” and “In the Garden.”

The message today is the story of two men who walked with Jesus after His resurrection and experienced the kind of heartburn that I spoke of earlier. They were on their way home; their hearts were heavy, their spirits low, when all of a sudden Jesus was walking by their side, full of life---and they didn’t recognize Him!

In their wildest imagination they could not believe that the One they had seen die, could be alive again. The account is found in Luke 24:13-32.

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast.

18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning

23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.

24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.

29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

There are many truths hidden within this thrilling account---truths that inspire, encourage, and challenge us in our relationship with the living Christ. Let me share a few with you.

1. Jesus Walks With Us in Our Times

of Distress.

Here we have two men, talking about Christ. Their hearts are heavy and filled with despair. And there is Jesus, just as He had told them He would be. It’s good for us to be reminded that we never walk alone.

A young lady was taking a ferry to New York one night when she noticed a man staring at her. He approached her and said, “Are you alone?” She answered, “No, as a matter of fact, I’m not.” A little later she was walking down a street in the city when she heard someone behind her. She quickened her step and so did the one behind her. When she got to a deserted section of the street, he caught up with her. She recognized him as the same man who was with her on the ferry. “I thought you said you weren’t alone?” he said. Her heart was racing, but with firm conviction she answered, “The Lord Jesus Christ and His guardian angels are with me!” The man was startled. He turned and left saying, “Lady, you keep too good company for me. God night.”