Our Hearts Revealed
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
Luke 2:34-35 NIV
“You can’t handle the truth!”
This line, uttered by Jack Nicholson’s character in the movie A Few Good Men, is probably more famous than the movie itself. Yet, in a way, this is what Simeon is prophesising in the Scripture above. Can the people of Israel handle the truth? Can we?
The sad reality is that not everyone can. Instead, they choose to believe what is convenient for them. They choose to believe what doesn’t challenge them or require them to change their ways. That is why Simeon tells Mary that the coming of Jesus will reveal the thoughts of many hearts.
Sometimes this is true even in the life of believers. It is easier to turn on the TV than pick up the Bible because we know that the TV will not challenge us. We mute God at times because we are not ready to follow where he will lead us. Because we know we might need to confess our sins or to forgive the person we have been harbouring a grudge against. This is a part of us that we often hide, both from others and from ourselves.
Yet even in these moments we do not need to despair. Because Jesus came not just to reveal the thoughts of our own hearts but to reveal to us the heart of his Father. The God revealed in Jesus Christ is a God of compassion, a God slow to anger and abundant in mercy. He is a God who even when “we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV).
God knows what is in our hearts. He knows our doubts, our insecurities, our mistakes, and our sins. And he is faithful. God does not leave us in our sin. He sent his Son so that not even our rejection of God can have the last word.
God can handle the truth.
Prayer
Sovereign Lord, you know the thoughts than are on our hearts. You know all the ways we let you down, yet you have forgiven us. Father, let us submit to you – to your will and your ways. Help us to become who you designed and created us to be, that we may reflect your glory forever and ever. Amen.
Study by Gavin Henderson
About the writer:
Gavin Henderson is the National Ministry Leader for GCI UK and Ireland
Local congregation:
GCI Northampton Ecton
Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
NORTHAMPTON
NN6 0QB
Meeting time: Saturday 11am
Local congregational contact: Email: northampton@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact: wordoflife@gracecom.church