Reform, renew or replace?
It is interesting to see how quickly people minds jump to political or “Church” side of things… in my case this morning it is a personal question. The answer to these is a resounding YES in my life. But I contend that the last one “replace” may be the first thing that needs to happen in a life that is apart from God. We must have a new sense of devotion, a perspective of purpose and a revolution against our flesh.
Do our hearts need reform?
The heart of man strays from the love for mankind. Our sense of humanity is strained by the craziness of our fellow man, the trauma and PTSD that we recognize in every life. Although these things shape or twist our world view, we also see how often they need to be brought into check. Some lost standard of love that man seems to be missing. To reform is to again be shaped into a heart that sees others as they see themselves. To some this is the Golden rule. That rule needs to be applied to our hearts again and again.
Romans 13:8–9 (ESV) Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 7:12 (ESV) “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Do our hearts need renewal?
Again the heart of man needs to be refreshed often. The “vacation” of the heart allows us to be renewed in our outlook. But the reality is that we can not simply be renewed in our own fleshly likeness. The impurity of thoughts and deeds lead us to a place needing to be cleansed. The “pure in heart” that is in true happiness is one that will see God as scripture points us towards happiness in Him. We find our hearts (and minds) in need of renewal. We find our desire to see the heart filled with a focus of righteousness, faith, love and peace. Does your heart need to be renewed?
James 4:8 (ESV) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Matthew 5:8 (ESV) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
2 Timothy 2:21–23 (ESV) Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV) So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Do our hearts need reform?
So what is man’s heart? Some look at the heart and see the potential for evil (i.e., genocide, holocaust, etc.,.). There is a prison of sin that leads man to do horrific things in the idea of good. There is a slavery (biblical not modern view) to sin and unrighteousness that leaves our hearts in a state not to be renewed or reformed, but to be replaced. We need a new heart, we need a new spirit or there is nothing to be reformed or renewed.
Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
The theology of the heart further expands with the idea that man can not change his heart on his own. I am certain that we can testify to the idea that inside the heart of man there is also a bent to do some good. Sinful people lost in their rebellion still are moved by passion or conviction to do rightly to others. These are good acts they do not bring honor to a vessel that is dirty. They recognize the beauty of the image of God that is shared in mankind’s likeness.
To compound on this idea we also see a “hardness of heart” that is placed not simply by sin but also by the Lord. This is in seen in the Exodus from Egypt and the heart of Pharaoh but also in in the lives of those that hear the law of God and do not turn.
Zechariah 7:12 (ESV) They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts.
We can only see true renewal and reform after we see a revolution and replacement of that old heart. We, that are in Christ, are being shaped into God’s image. From the transforming work of the Holy Ghost in us to the new heart and happiness in following God. The result is the new heart that is born again into devotion to God.
It deserves more thought that we would give it casually.