Hard and soft hearts

A "heart" of stone!

I was glad to see him as I exited our worship service this Sunday—a friend who is recovering from surgery that saved his life after a heart attack. Age and disease “broke” his heart but now it’s “mended,” an adjective survivors like him are glad to claim. With reminders of Valentine’s Day all around—from candy and flowers to jewelry and clothes—I decided to add an extra entry to my blog schedule. For some reason God reminded me of “heart” verses I’d read long ago in from Ezekiel, that Old Testament prophet known for amazing, symbolic visions (like dry bones, chapter 37).

If you really want to boil the message of the prophets to one word, you need to go with “heart” and the “heart problems” that led to the downfalls of Judah and Israel hundreds of years before Christ. Ezekiel’s message from God was bad news followed by good news of somehow returning to their homeland.  God said:
I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them: I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  (Ezekiel 36:26)

Do you see Jesus in these verses?  I do. He waits for us to turn to Him, admit we have hearts of stone, and allow Him to transform us with hearts that beat in sync with His. The apostle John saw a lot of love and hate in his long life of proclaiming the truths about Jesus.  But he always came back to the transforming love of Christ. I’ll never forget the comment by a Christian co-worker from a newspaper where I once worked. He had come to Christ out of a rugged background.  When I asked him his favorite Bible verse, he quoted 1 John 3 and expressed amazement that he was now a child of God.  His voice broke as he quoted verse 2: “We know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

So maybe those little plush bears clutching soft red hearts—displayed all over stores these days (including this one I spotted at a thrift store)—have it theologically right. Our world needs Christ-softened hearts, not hard, selfish ones. Today, while going into a grocery store, we spotted a friend who is going through a very difficult time. After she shared and became quiet, I asked if she could use a hug. She said yes. Her long embrace reminded me that God needs more “soft hearts” out there. We’re praying for her, too.

Feeling a bit beat up lately as a result of someone’s hard-hearted behavior? Tell it to Jesus.  I did, and today, out of the blue, I recalled some powerful words from a church choir cantata I sang forty-some years ago. The song expressed how Christ’s wonderful look of love “broke and won my heart.” When I turn my attention to Jesus, He puts His nail-scarred hands on my pain, and I know His love.

 

Coming in Friday's blog: forgiveness.

Spout and moan

A continuing series inspired by sights in Kauai.
Volcanoes were the contractors for the Hawaiian chain, all now dormant except for those on the “big island” of Hawaii, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Those of Kauai’s volcanic history include Mount Waialeale (elevation 5,080 feet), one of the world’s rainiest spots with an annual precipitation of 460 inches. The beaches continue to witness to the island’s volcanic origins, and one tourist spot is “Spouting Horn” on the southeast shore. Surf channels through a natural lava tube, releasing a spout of water with a big hiss and moan. Depending on tides, the “blow” can go as high as fifty feet.
 

Watching it reminded me of the Bible’s do’s and do-not’s regarding “overflows.” Like the “Spouting Horn” we have blow-holes that originate in our hearts. In two Gospels (Matthew 12:34-37 and Luke 6:45) Jesus observed that we speak and “do” out of the overflow of our hearts. Good people speak and do good things, evil people, evil things. On judgment day it will be rehearsed.  We’re doomed—apart from the blood of Christ covering our confessed sin (1 John 1:9).

But there are hopeful, even joyful, teachings about “overflows”:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.  All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:14-15)

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

 Hope, thanksgiving, and love—they won’t come “moaning out” like “Spouting Horn”!