Simple heart surgery
Ezekiel 11:19-20 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
This text come from a vision that God gave the great prophet Ezekiel, known as the Temple Vision. God is pointing out the sin and His judgement on Israel to come. All throughout the history of Israel they are known as stubborn people; stiff-necked is the term used in the NKJV. Moses even pled to God to show mercy on them; again and again. Exodus 34:Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.” The central theme in this text in Ezekiel is the New Covenant that God made with us through Christ. Through Christ you gain a new heart.
You cannot remain the same if you claim Christianity. There must be a difference evident in your life. That heart change that you experienced upon Salvation is either fed and flourishes, or it is denied and questionable. We are called to become disciples of Christ, and that change of heart will produce a change of lifestyle. That change of lifestyle brings about discipleship for those in your circle of influence who want to know why. We are told how to live this life in Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)
God warned Ezekiel in that same vision of those that continued to live for themselves and the world; of His judgement coming upon them. Ezekiel 11:21 But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”(ESV) Have you truly changed your life since you claimed Christianity? Does anyone know that you have experienced this heart transplant with Christ? Was it a sincere plea for forgiveness of your sins and for Christ to become Lord over your life? Big hard questions…..but a very simple surgery.