Transformation of the Heart # 186

Ezekiel 36:26

I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and

I will give you an heart of flesh.

Due to the fall, we were born sinners, and this is our curse. Because of our condition, we are separated from God and damned for eternity. Our hope for salvation is a change of heart, a miracle that only God can do. Our hearts are naturally hardened by sin and concealed with layers of pride. The longer we abide in sin, the harder it gets. Unless the Lord intervenes on our behalf, we will perish forever.

Hearts of stones is the best way to describe our condition. Unable to love because we do not know the love of God. A stone is cold and lifeless without feeling. Incapable of laughing with those that laugh and weep with those that weep. They have eyes to see but can not see how Christ suffered on the cross for our crimes against Him. Having ears to hear, but have never heard, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The transformation of the heart is a slow process but remember the promise of God. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. When the unconverted first encounters the Love of God, it seeks to hide behind pride. Every encounter with love slowly strips the layer of pride away.

A proud heart does not seek the Lord because of self-dependent. Therefore, God uses trials and tribulations in our lives to remove the layers from the heart. The removal may be uncomfortable or embarrassing to the flesh as it hates to be humiliated. At times the stripping away is unnoticeable, but God started the work, and He will finish it.

Each removal creates a void, making room for humility, a gift from the Lord. As humility increases, our hearts become more sensitive to the Holy Ghost. Sensitivity is evidence of a heart of flesh, able to rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. When a heart of flesh sees the cross for the first time, it crushes its spirit seeing what our crimes have done to Christ. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. As we repent from our ways, the Lord will ask the Father to forgive us.

Brethren, trial, and tribulation are gifts from the Lord to humble, proud hearts. Embrace them, and let them do their work in your lives until pride is removed and replaced with humility. The transformation of the heart is the working of the Holy Spirit.

Lk 23:34, Ph 1:6, Ro 12:15, Ps 51:17

KJV