43 A Precious Promise
A Precious Promise "I will remove from you your heart of stone — and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26 The promises of God are calculated, and intended, to inspire the most desponding with hope. They just meet our case, they engage for just what we need. They are exceeding great and very precious. Though this promise literally refers to the Jew, it is applicable to the case of the Gentiles, and is intended for our encouragement. Hence the apostle says, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; fof it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galat. 3:13, 14. The promise may be claimed and pleaded by us, and if so, then God will certainly fulfill it in our experience.
Consider the agent working. "I will remove from you your heart of stone — and give you a heart of flesh." This no one could do but he who created us at the first, and he engages to do it. It is Jehovah who speaks, the God of Abraham, the wonder-working God of Israel, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The great physician of souls. To him all things are possible. To him all things are easy. He says, "I will work and who shall hinder it." I can take away the stony heart, for I am infinitely wise. I may give the heart of flesh, for I have all authority. I will do it, for I have determined. Authority, power, and love unite in the renovation of the sinner. Nothing short of omnipotence can change the heart, and the Omnipotent One will do it.
Observe the operation to be performed. "I will remove from you your heart of stone." Here is an intimation of a fearful disease. The heart is turned into stone. This is the case with every sinner. His heart is hard and unyielding, like the heart of Leviathan, as we read, "His heart is as firm as a stone; yes, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone." Job 41:24. You may speak of the terrors of the law — but there is no beneficial impression. You may set forth the tender mercies of the gospel — but it refuses to yield to their influence. It is like the adamant, or the rock of flint. The stony heart is senseless and inactive — as the apostle speaks of some, "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." Ephesians 4:19.
There is no sense of shame, or they could not live in sin. There is no proper feeling of danger, or they would actively endeavor to escape it. They are "as still as a stone" in reference to spiritual things, however active they may be in temporal things. The stony heart is cold and repelling. Never warmed with love to God, or softened by the many mercies received. If the bible is read, all within is cold. If the gospel is heard, no lasting impression is made. Preaching to such is like plowing upon a rock — until God exerts his power. The stony heart is dry and barren, there are no tears of penitence, no fruits of righteousness there. One rock gave forth streams in the desert — but the stony heart never does; it must be removed and a heart of flesh be given. The stone always tends downwards; it is with the sinner’s heart, as it was with the Egyptians of old. "They sank into the bottom as a stone." Exodus 15:5. There is no buoyancy about it, it cannot ascend to God. Earth is its element, and the dust its place. It grovels — but never ascends. It is not sensible of its own hardness, of its many sins — and of God’s infinite, stupendous, and unmerited love. It has no right feeling toward God, toward man, toward itself, toward the righteous law, or toward the everlasting gospel.
Reader, your heart by nature is a stone, it is hard and unyielding — it is senseless and inactive — cold and repelling — dry and barren — it always tends downward, it is even degraded below the mineral creation! O that you saw it, that you felt it — for then there would soon be a deliverance from it! A divine operation is necessary. The Lord must take away the stony heart, and give the heart of flesh — or completely change the character. This is done by the quickening energy of the Holy Spirit. A new life must be imparted. A new creation must be wrought. A thorough change must be effected. The heart must be softened, its nature must be changed. Life is imparted in one moment — but the softening of the heart is a gradual work. It often takes a long time before it appears. The change is effected by little and little. The soul being quickened, the heart being softened — divine teaching is experienced. The person begins to learn the truth. The eyes are opened to see the true state of the heart, the fearful desert of sin, and the need of an Almighty Savior. God’s true character is revealed, the way of salvation is made known, and the path of destruction is avoided. The heart of flesh is given, which is tender and susceptible of impression. So that little sins are felt, fears are easily awakened, and strong desires after spiritual things spring up. The soul is very sensible of sin, and mourns over it. It is humbled under it, and seeks most earnestly to be delivered from it. There is a holy fear of God’s displeasure, a trembling at God’s word, and a yielding to divine reproofs. The iron sinew is gone from the neck, and the covering of brass from the brow. The person bows before the Lord, and is modest before his fellow-men. He is teachable, and reads God’s word in order to learn his will. He is obedient, and desires to perform the whole will of God from the heart. The man is a new creation.
He was darkness — but he is now light in the Lord.
He was dead — but he is now alive unto God.
He was afar off — but he is now made near by the blood of the cross.
He was haughty — he is now humble.
He was obstinate — he is now yielding.
He was ignorant — he is now acquainted with God and enjoys peace.
He was a stranger — he is now a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ. The heart of stone is gone, he feels, he enjoys, he rejoices in divine things. The heart of flesh is given, he is easily impressed, deeply affected, and habitually yields himself unto God as one that is alive from the dead.
Friend, what is the state of your heart? Is it stone, or is it flesh? If it is flesh now — then it was stone once. If you are not sensible of a change — then it is stone still; and if it is, you are in an awful state. Examine into your real state before God — your heart is either stone or flesh: which is it? Does God’s word affect you? His threatenings, do they awe you? His invitations, do they allure you? His promises, do they cheer you? His precepts, do they please you?
Hoes the love of God melt you? Are you struck with it, affected by it, and do you feel constrained to love him in return? His love is wonderful. It often appears to be too good, and too great to be true. Has it appeared so to you? Does his beauty attract you? Jehovah is infinitely beautiful, he is altogether lovely. If our eyes are opened, if our minds are enlightened, if we see Jehovah in Jesus — then we cannot but admire him, adore him, love him, and long to be like him. Have you ever felt this? Have you ever been affected thus? If you have a heart of flesh — then . . .
God’s threatenings will alarm you,
his precepts will regulate you,
his glory will charm you,
his grace will consecrate you to his service, and
the Lord Jesus will be the grand object of your desire, love, and esteem.
If your heart is flesh — then God made it so. Man could not do it. You could not produce the change yourself. God did, therefore he humble. Lay low before the Lord. Admire his grace. Adore his sovereign goodness. Listen to the language of the Apostle, "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have — that you did not receive? And if you did receive it — why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7
If you have not experienced this change, be convinced that you need it, for you never can be saved without it. There are no hearts of stone in Heaven, nor will one ever be allowed to enter there. Illness will not change the stone to flesh. Death will not effect the necessary change. It is the grace of God, and the grace of God alone — that can do it. Therefore plead the promise. Be earnest with God. Cry unto him incessantly until your heart is softened, and your nature is made like the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Unless you are converted, and become as little children — you shall not enter into the kingdom of God." Matthew 18:3. Are you still indifferent? Do you perceive no danger? Are you under no concern? Are you crying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace? If so, I solemnly warn you — that you must have this promise fulfilled in your experience, or you will surely perish. He who has made the promise, says to you in reference to it, and all similar promises, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8