Holy Wholeness: A New Heart
Holy Wholeness:
A New Heart, a New Spirit
Scripture: Ezekiel 36:25-27
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Spiritual Life Officer
USA Southern Territory
On December 3, 1967, Dr. Christaan Bernard of South Africa performed the first successful heart transplant on a human being. Until that time, when a heart was diseased beyond surgical repair or the body’s natural ability to heal it, a person was forced to bide his time until his heart simply could not beat anymore. But now there was an option. The old, worn out, defective heart could be replaced by a strong, beating, life-giving one. In this case, the answer was not within the body but transplanting something from outside.
State of the Israelites
The relationship between God and the Israelites was more like a pothole strewn dirt road than a highway of holiness. The Jewish people as a whole vacillated wildly between times of pious and wholehearted devotion to God to periods of apostasy and idolatry. To be sure, even in the worst of times there were devout people who followed the Lord completely, but the prevailing culture seemed to change like the weather.
Much of the book of Ezekiel is devoted to the spiritual state of the nation, now a serfdom of Babylon. Under the bonds of captivity, large numbers of people had been exported from their beloved homeland, leaving behind the great city of Jerusalem in smoldering ruins. They constantly looked for God’s deliverance but were oblivious about their own spiritual state that was far worse than the ruin of their conquered land. More than a homeland, more than even freedom, God knew what they needed was a revival of devotion to Him. What God says to the Israelites as a whole applies equally to the life of the individual believer.
Cleansing
In this passage from Ezekiel, God prescribes the cure to their spiritual malaise. “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” (vs. 25). The water referred to is that used in Jewish ceremonial washings as prescribed by the law, particularly sprinkling with water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer (Numbers 19:17-19). Water in Scripture is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit. As commentator Adam Clarke points out water serves to “cleanse, whiten, purify, refresh, render healthy and fruitful.” Particularly noted was purging of the sin of idolatry. The worship of idols had bedeviled the Israelites throughout their history. Often, even the times of great spiritual refreshing, the worship of the true God was still mixed with some worship of idols. But God views this doublehearted approach as “filth”. When the Jewish people emerged from the captivity of Babylon idol worship among them had ceased. Apparently, they finally got the message.
A New Heart
God then promises, “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, compassionate heart” (vs. 26). In this verse the Lord speaks about both the positive and negative aspects of the experience of holiness.
First, the change is rooted in God’s work within us. Just as the person in need of a heart transplant cannot repair his own failing organ, we cannot fix or in any way repair our spiritual heart that has been severely damaged by sin. That action is initiated outside of us by the surgery of the Holy Spirit. He transplants a new, alive and vibrant heart of His own making.
Second, the new heart performs differently than the old one. When we speak of the heart (other than physically) we think of the seat of our emotions. We love with all our heart, for example. But when the Bible speaks of the heart it means more than our emotions but our will as well. The new heart that God gives includes a strong desire to do what pleases Him, that strives to obey even if it comes at great personal cost. The heart yearns to be what God wants it to be. This is a very important concept for us to grasp.
More than a Cover-up
Some teach that when God saves an individual that He imputes His righteousness so that, like the snow covers the ground, the heart is covered by the righteousness of God. While that is a lovely thought, the ground remains essentially unchanged. But our understanding of what the Bible teaches is far more transformative than that. We believe that, while we agree that righteousness comes from God, that He more than covers our defects like a coat of paint, but He transforms our very nature. We are different people who act differently, who think differently, who have new goals and a new outlook. This is what a new heart does. The change is from the inside out.
The heart is enabled to do this by the Holy Spirit. “I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow My decrees and be careful to obey my regulations” (vs. 27). The holy life is made so by the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit. The law of God that looked so impossibly daunting now becomes the place where our feet long to walk. We are no longer the bucking bronco in rebellion. Now we are harnessed for effective work.
The holy heart is possible only through God replacing our hard, diseased and ineffective heart with the one He has shaped for us. Are you in need of a heart transplant? There are no lines and no waiting. Ask Him to do His work in you today.
Our Corporate Prayer
Dear Father, please look at my heart today and see if I need renewing. This is the place that only You can truly see. I want my heart to be pure and healthy in Your sight. If it is not, then give me a heart transplant through Your Holy Spirit so that my heart can beat in rhythm with Yours. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Our Worldwide Prayer Meeting
Uganda Territory
Thinking It Through
Someone has said, "The heart of the matter is the heart of the matter." The condition of our heart before God is not just something between God and ourselves - it affects every area of our lives. In what ways have you seen something weighing on your heart affect your outward behavior? If things were not right in your heart, how might it have affected your behavior and you didn't realize it?
Notable Quotable
A divided heart loses both worlds. - A. B. Simpson
The Fountainview Academy brings us a very nice rendition of the old standard, "Whiter Than Snow."
We would appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions on how to improve these devotionals. Please email comments to: SpiritualLifeDevelopment@uss.salvationarmy.org or by going to our website: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/spiritual-life-development.
We would love to hear from you.
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Territorial Spiritual Life Development Officer/THQ Chaplain
USA Southern Territory