GOD’S REBUILDING YOU!

As I was studying God’s word this morning God led me to Ezekial chapter 36:26-37.  Verse 26 tells us -

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Although this passage of scripture is talking about Israel and God’s promise to the Israelites to restore them and their city, as I read I saw myself and my own flaws and failures.  Verse 32 says – “Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct…”  However, God goes on to say that He will “cleanse us from all our sins, He will resettle our towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt.  People will say, This land that was laid waste has become like the Garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.  And the nations around you … will know that I the lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate.  I the lord have spoken, and I will do it.”  Vs. 33-36.

I have noticed that God uses words of rebuilding cities and walls and repairing streets many times in the Bible as a metaphor for the work He will do in us.

Think back to before you came to Christ…. Your life probably was in ruins.  Your conduct was something that made you feel shame and disgrace.  I know mine did.  I remember thinking at the time that I was a nice person – however I had no integrity.  I thought I deserved the extra money when the cashier gave me too much change back – “that wasn’t stealing.”  Cheating on my taxes, or an exam, or taking an extra hour for lunch without accounting for my time wasn’t lying – “everyone does it.”

Even now as a Christian I can easily deceive myself.  I tell myself things like “I’m not judgmental, but I would never leave my kids with a sitter – I’m a stay at home mom!”  “I’m not gossiping – I’m just stating the facts – everyone knows that woman is sleeping her way to the top.”  “That person isn’t very mature – their Bible looks as if it’s never been opened – mine is highlighted in yellow, orange and green in every chapter!”  Does any of this sound familiar?

Maybe today you’re feeling undeserving of God’s love.  Perhaps you’re feeling guilty or depressed or ashamed, or hopeless and powerless.  Dear friend – look up!  God is already working on you.  He’s already giving you a heart of His flesh as you turn over your heart of stone to Him.  A stone sounds menacing and unmoving, however a stone doesn’t mean unworthy.  When we come to know Jesus and accept Him into our life, He changes our heart into flesh so He can live there inside of us.  Even when we’ve been walking for years with God but continue to have behaviors that are unpleasing to Him, He’s always there to soften your heart and make it pliable and obedient.  Our heart of flesh can easily hear God and become tender to His voice.

Even today I can think of several things I did just over the last weekend that I bring to God and say, “Lord, I failed you again.”  But God is there to accept our repentance, give us His forgiveness and then continue to “rebuild” us into a new and beautiful city.

The passage above tells us that because we are His children and He loves us that He will take our “ruins”, our life that we’ve made a mess of, and rebuild it to look like the Garden of Eden.  We were desolate and destroyed but now God has fortified us (protected and strengthened us, made us whole, made us effective and emboldened, and increased our value!).

Today, though your walls may have fallen down around you and your life seems to be in ruins, have hope and joy because the Mighty God of the Universe has a shovel and a hammer and is ready to rebuild!