What gets written ...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 9:00AM We're living in the wrong verse... unaware of how God writes.
What gets written can't be erased. It must be replaced.
A sculptor's chisel that slips and gouges a trough in the stone can't undo what it's done. The chisel's work is permanent. The tatoo artist's needle can't recall the ink from the skin: It has been absorbed as forever-dyed flesh. When humanity's faithless hoaring gouged, ruined and seared the heart, it could not be re-written:
"Judah's sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts ..." (Jeremiah 17:1).
The problem is, most Christians are still living here. They have been taught to sit down in that chapter, especially the verse that follows only 8 verses later: "The heart is deceitful above all things..." (Jer. 17:9)
But remember, what gets written on the heart can't be erased: It must be replaced. More specifically, you don't keep painting on a dirtied canvass: You replace the canvass first, then continue painting. You replace the heart first, then continue writing its story there. As followers of Jesus, reborn supernaturally, we've got to make the transition to a later passage in Jeremiah, leaving Jeremiah 17:9 behind:
"I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts." (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). Even before God declares a new way of relating (new covenant), he expresses his intent: "I will give them a heart to know me ... for they will return to me with all their heart." (Jer. 24:7)
How can you return to God with all your heart when the heart is deceitful above all things -- Gouged, ruined? Or, how can you return to him with all your heart when you believe your heart is still deceitful above all things? You cannot. It is a crippling assumption most Christians still hold because they have been taught that they still live in Jeremiah 17:9.
What gets written cannot be erased. It must be replaced. God replaces the ruined heart with a good, pure and noble heart. (Ezekiel 36:26) There is new writing on this heart. A new way. You do know God, you do want him. Within the heart he gave you, Christian, there are supernatural kindnesses, passions, and courages you never thought possible.
He has done his best writing in you.
Reader Comments (5)
Hi Jim,
Great entry! Your message is so simple and it is the thing that eludes most Christians. When I go into churches anymore I feel heavy-hearted. The most important message Christ came to share with us---His whole reason for being is completely overlooked! Why bother with empty messages, I always ask myself. I have run out of reasons to return to any church for that reason. For me something about it is so sad.
The crippling assumption you mention is something people presume about themselves and projected on to others who have put no thought into it. To me, it is like that old movie "Night of the Living Dead". The zombies go around dead to create more dead as though they are sleep-walking. That's how I feel about modern Christianity.
Hope all is well,
Meredith
Your so right, Meredith. After a while, the heart says, "No more." We're looking for life...and isn't that the offer? Thanks for your comments here.
Hi Jim,
It has been such a long road for me, and I have had to take a look back and reevaluate why I went to church and why I think others still do. It's like it is cultural. Some people who don't get it go bacause they think it makes them a better person by attending or it will give them the "status" of being "good" and thought of as good by others. I went because i thought it would be good to go because I wanted to make friends with more like-minded people. I didn't. I felt so isolated.
I've been thinking of something else...something I wanted to ask you Jim....In church they lecture regularly that we have to stay in church because "satan likes to attack the stray lamb". And I have to tell you that I was more hurt and attacked while being in church than being outside of it. When I encounter regular people, it's kinder. I have been outright attacked and lied about and everything else by fellow Christians. I have been told the ugliest lies about my soul within churches and not allowed to be myself.
This stray lamb thing, is it just a method of control? That has been sticking in my head lately.
Meredith
Great thoughts Jim. A few years ago I tried to get this idea of a good heart through to one of my evangelical friends who believed that his heart was deceitful and wicked. After a few meetings I asked him how he could love God or trust Him with his heart if that was true. The light came on for him.. sad that so many believe the worst about their heart.
Great point, Bob. You really can't do much of anything without a new heart. Can't love God well, love others, find your calling, etc. Thanks for that insight.