Crushed

Crushed

“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a crushed and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of those who are crushed.” Isa. 57:15. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a crushed spirit.” Ps. 34:18. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a crushed heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” Ps. 51:17.

Most Christians look to God as dwelling high up in heaven, and they pray to Him when they are in need and difficulties, asking for their sins to be forgiven. However, they have not received God so that He has a firm dwelling place in their hearts and in their spirits. Those places are taken up with many different interests. They pray to God as to someone who dwells outside themselves. God can never erect His dwelling place within them, a dwelling place filled with His own glory.

There was a discussion in a daily newspaper about why churches have steeples. One man wrote that the steeples pointed up to heaven to indicate that God does not dwell down here, but far, far away. That was his view of the normal religiosity, and it is true that “the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48), but He lives in the high and holy place, with those who have a crushed spirit and a broken heart.

If a dinner plate were divided into several sections, there would still be room to put something on the various parts; but if the plate is crushed, there isn’t a single piece left on which you could keep anything. If our hearts and spirits are thus crushed, God will then create a new heart and a new spirit. The result is a new vessel, which the Lord can fill with something completely new.

Most people still have the old “dinner plate” and hold it out to receive the honor of man, and anything else that is of interest to the old man. They have room for the spirit of the times and admiration for everything that is great, high-class, and modern. They still have room to think some evil and to keep some pride.

Life is brief and precious, and it is foolish to have a heart in which there is room for something else besides a living interest in everything that belongs to God’s kingdom. Many people have to endure extreme sufferings and tribulations before their strong, human spirit is crushed so that they forsake everything and hate themselves. Only in this state can we become disciples of Jesus, “a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Tim. 2:21.

Our heart becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are more and more enriched with God’s life and glory. We have no more room for bitterness, being offended, or any other evil, but only for that which is good, noble, and true. What a glorious transformation of life!