Hard Wood

I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations.

Ezekiel 11:19-20

PETRIFIED WOOD IS the fossilized remains of vegetation that was once living. Over time, the organic substance of the wood decomposes, and a stone mold forms in its place, preserved exactly in the shape of the wood. It’s literally wood that has become stone over time.

In Ezekiel’s day, God’s people were a lot like pieces of petrified wood. The parts of their hearts that had been alive to God had slowly ebbed away, and their soft, living hearts had been replaced by hearts of stone—cold, unmoving, unloving, dead. And it was because of their corruption and their idol worship.

With every act of devotion to other gods—whether they are work, status, hobbies, or finances—we replace the organic, living material in our hearts with cold, hard stone. We create the idols, but they end up devouring us.

What makes your heart beat faster? What does your bank account say you are more devoted to than anything else? Where do you spend your time? These things reveal what you worship.

Fortunately, God has a remedy for petrified hearts. As we repent of our sin, He will remove our hearts of stone and once again give us hearts that are fully alive to Him. Take some time to search your heart for any signs of hardness. Ask God to renew your heart for Him.

BOTTOM LINE

Repentance makes your heart soft and usable by God.

Moment of Strength: Ezekiel 36:25-27