Renounce Your Stony HeartSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: When the devil enters into one's heart, he hardens it. The person loses his joy of living and slowly draws away from God, unable to feel His presence and love. But when you shun him, he will flee. God will grant you a new tender heart. Are you living a life pleasing to the Lord? The devil cannot bear to see you living such a spotless life before God. He will be at your side trying to distract you from listening or reading the Lord's Word whispering into your ears, "Why do you try so hard to live pure before God? What is the use in worshipping Him?" The devil tries to make the heart hard. But the Bible teaches us how to escape from the devil. Do not give a chance for the devil to rule over your heart. Resist the devil and He will flee. When tempted by various fears and threats, do not panic. Look up to the Lord Jesus Christ. Draw closer to Him and He will take the heart of stone out of you and give you a heart of flesh.
There was a great change in the mind of Judas one of the disciples of Jesus. The devil had been all the time prompting him to betray Jesus. At the end, satan entered into Judas and won the battle (John 13:27). He made him bold enough to betray Jesus. Judas' heart had become so hard that it made him forget the love of Christ. The same Judas who drove away devils and healed the diseased in the name of Jesus (Luke2:9), detested Jesus wholeheartedly. He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of sliver.
Love of money entered the heart of Judas. He ran after money. Even as Jesus shed bloody sweat and groaned in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas walked upto Him and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him (Matthew 26:49). But there was no change in his heart. It had been hardened so much, all because the devil had entered him.
There was once a dacoit in North India. He used to plunder and loot at nights and take all the cash and jewels to his wife. One day, as he was walking along the road, a poor servant of God was speaking about the love of Jesus and the peace that God gives His children. The message went deep into his heart. He knelt there, on the road and prayed, "Father, I am a dacoit. There is no account of the lives I have butchered and the blood that I shed. Yet, Lord, be merciful upon me, a sinner!" The Lord heard his prayer. A peace which the world cannot give filled his heart! He returned home in great joy. He told his wife of the peace which he had received. For three days continuously he stayed at home because he did not have the heart to go out to loot. His wife asked him why he did not go out for the plunder. He replied, "Jesus Christ has changed my heart. I have no more the mind to shed others' blood." His wife tried her best to change his mind, but failed. That is the transformation that Jesus brings.
Dear friend, do not give room to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). While he whispers in your ear, resist him (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). If he enters you, you will become hard-hearted.
When Judas saw Jesus being condemned to death on the cross and Simon Peter shedding tears, he ran in tears to the Chief Priests and pleaded with them to take back the thirty pieces of silver. But they replied, "What is that to us? You see to it." Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:4,5).
The devil's intention is to tempt you, corrupt your mind, thoughts and ultimately urge you to commit suicide and end your life. That is why he heaps up problems on you. He instils fear in your heart. And finally, he asks you the question, "How is it that you are still alive?"
I know a man of God who used to be taken up in his spirit to the heaven above. The Lord Himself would reveal to him the heavenly sights and the secrets enshrined in the scriptures. He would prophesy the things to come and advise him on matters relating to his ministry. One day, He took him to the abode of the spirit of Judas. He is not in hell. God has kept his spirit in a restless state in a wilderness like deserted place. His spirit is roaming about all the time. Suddenly, it laments, "Lo! I have betrayed Jesus Christ!" There is continuous tears and gnashing of teeth. Judas could have been used like Peter in the Lord's ministry. Or he could have been like John who reclined on the bosom of Jesus. But alas! He is weeping and wailing day and night, because he committed suicide instead of repenting.
Dear friend, resist the devil when you are tempted to commit suicide by various fears and threats. Look up to the Lord Jesus Christ. He has said, "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). He also says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). Do not worry even if you feel that your heart has become so hard that you cannot feel the love of God in your heart; just ask the Lord to give you a new heart of flesh. He is willing to change your hardened heart and give you a tender heart of flesh. Receive it through prayer.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Though I have failed in my attempts to live upto Your expectations, I plead with you to forgive my shortcomings and accept me. Though my heart is hardened like a stone, Father, make it tender through Your love. Make my thoughts holy. Let not the devil enter into my life. Help me to come out of temptations that the world brings in many forms. Help me when I am depressed. Father, take away all my suicidal thoughts. Renew my spirit by granting me a clean and new heart. I make this prayer in the victorious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen. |