From a medical standpoint, a heart transplant is usually needed when the organ is diseased, weak, and at risk of a possible heart failure. Likewise, we need a spiritual “heart transplant” when our hearts become hardened to the things of God.
God knows the true condition of our hearts. Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations” (Ezekiel 36:26-27, NLT).
Our hearts become stony and stubborn when we stray in our relationship with God. Our love for God can be eroded by our callousness and disobedience. The bitterness we harbour as a result of life’s pain and unanswered questions can also harden our hearts, leading us to refuse repentance and be less responsive.
We may sometimes try to resuscitate our hearts with religious acts of worship, but deep within, we know these outward band-aid remedies do not last when the root issue is not addressed. We are simply unable to restore our diseased hearts on our own.
God offers us the remedy. He wants to replace this stony and stubborn heart with a new heart that is tender and responsive to Him. With the new heart, we can worship Him with joy and delight. He has promised the Holy Spirit to empower us to obey Him. When our hearts are malleable and mouldable, we allow God to shape it for His purpose.
Ezekiel 36:25 (NLT) says, “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.” God transplants in us a new heart when we repent of our sins, acknowledge the cleansing by the blood of Christ, and experience the grace of being forgiven. Post-operation, it is also vital to make changes to our lifestyle and abandon half-hearted commitment towards God.
During this Covid-19 slow down and "circuit breaker" extension, let us take this opportunity to attend to our hearts. Tarry no longer, schedule an appointment with the Chief Surgeon who is trustworthy, loving and wise. Whatever the condition of our hearts, He delights in attending to us. Let Him care for you deeply and increase your dependence on Him.
The renewal of our hearts allows life to flow from it. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT).
Lam Kok Hiang has over 30 years of experience in full-time Christian vocational ministry. He holds a MA (Biblical Studies) from Dallas Theological Seminary and has led Cru Singapore as National Team Leader since 2006. An avid runner, Kok Hiang shares a love for books with his wife, Sharon. Together, their desire is to see young leaders rise up in local churches and missions agencies across Asia.
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