A New Heart

One of the instances of the word “new” that we will look at is found in Ezekiel 36.  Here are verses 24-28:  24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.  Through the prophet Ezekiel, God is telling His people of a time when He will bring them back into their land, despite their rebellion and rejection of Him.  God says that He will give then a new heart, a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone.

There are lots of things we could talk about here but I’ll stick to the idea that God, and only God, can provide a new “heart”.  It is impossible for me, if I need a new heart, to give it to myself.  In terms of a physical heart transplant, I could never do that myself.  I need an entire team of medical professionals plus a hospital and most importantly, a donor of a heart.  Spiritually speaking, it is just as impossible for me to give myself a “new heart”.  Only God can do that.  And the good news is that He desires to do it; even for a people like you and me who have rebelled against and rejected Him.

The “heart of flesh” that He gives us is a heart that brings life to us, replacing the unfeeling heart of stone that we have toward God because of our sin.   Our heart of flesh allows us to have a real relationship with God.  And it is only God who can give it.  Have you had a “heart replacement” yet?   Have you allowed God to give you a new heart?