Before coming to Christ, the Bible tells us that we are spiritually dead. Not only that but we read in (Jeremiah 17:9): “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” But deep within the human heart, I believe, is a desire to know God. Sadly because of sin, we have been blinded by Satan and suppress the truth about who God is. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) tells us: “…He has also set eternity in the human heart…” John Piper says it well: “The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this.”1
Even though sinful man suppresses the truth about God he is still made in the image of God and can be reached and restored back into a relationship with Jesus. However, in order to accomplish this restoration radical spiritual surgery by the Father is necessary. Our desperately wicked heart needs more than just reformation it needs transformation. And the only remedy for our dead spiritual condition is a heart transplant – we need a brand new heart. Fortunately, God has provided the surgical means for we read in (Ezekiel 36:26): “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.”
Clearly, if it were not for God’s intervention, then the heart would indeed be beyond all cure. Not only does God give us a new heart but (Jeremiah 31:33) tells us: “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” With His laws written on our hearts we can know Him and follow His ways. (2 Corinthians 5:17) tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” As Christians we become new creations with a new heart but we still must stay close to God and obey His precepts from moment to moment in order to enjoy His wonderful presence.
The difference between the old and new man is that we now have a new capacity to not sin, where before, we were dead in our sins. But we still have a free will and even though we have a new heart we must always try to fill it with godly things and pursuits.
(Romans 12:1-2) tells us that part of the discipleship process is to be transformed by the renewing of the mind for we read: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” When we renew the mind our heart is purged of evil and falsehood and filled with truth.
All Christians must go through this necessary spiritual surgery, but praise God, after we become new creations in Christ we can know, experience, and enjoy the presence of God and His glory both now and in eternity; and nothing can compare with this privilege.
1 TOP 25 QUOTES BY JOHN PIPER (of 464) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)
This quote from today’s devotion expresses the unbeliever’s desire to know God.
“deep within the human heart, I believe, is a desire to know God.”
We’re told the unbeliever “suppresses the truth” but because he is made in God’s image, he can be restored to a relationship with Christ.
As it has been said many times on this site, unbelievers don’t have to desire to know God, “ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” Rom. 1:19
Their problem is not about knowing but about honoring and giving thanks. “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him. Rom. 1:21
The unbeliever’s condemnation is not about knowing but about suppressing what they know. “They became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” Rom. 1:21, 22
“Therefore God gave them up.” When God gives up on an unbeliever, he does not “desire to know God.” Even though he was made in God’s image, he “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Rom. 1:23
If the unbeliever is to come to know the Savior it will not be due to his “desire to know God” but the Sovereign’s decree of election before the foundation of the world.