PICTURE TWO – THE CONVICTED HEART
This picture is very similar to the first, and yet there are some important differences.
The animals are all in the heart still, but they have been disturbed and are turning away from light that has begun to penetrate the darkness inside; light that is shining from the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
What does this mean?
This man has heard something from the Word of God.
It may be he has listened to a great deal or perhaps only a sentence or a phrase has been retained in his memory.
But like a flame of fire it has entered and disturbed the sin lurking there, for a knowledge of sin comes through the law of God, (Romans 3:20) and through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit a man becomes conscious of sin in his heart (John 16:8).
A garment may look clean in the fading light of the evening, but how different it appears when put into the full blaze of the sun.
The demons and the animals are trying to hide from the light just as white ants avoid the sunlight and as evil men seek the darkness in which to do their wicked acts.
“Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20).
What a picture this is of a person coming under the influence of the Gospel message. His conscience also is being quickened, and he is beginning to see more clearly what previously he was incapable of perceiving. Yet this is not enough, in fact there is great danger of getting thus far and then stopping.
Many have done so, only to become more unhappy and more miserable.
Unless the heart is willing to receive more and more of the Word of God and obey the awakened conscience there will be no lasting change.
So we turn from the picture with this question, “Will this man who is being convicted of his sin be willing to listen to the Word which has come from the Living God, and take notice of the urgings of the Holy Spirit in his heart?”
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website 1: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Website 2: http://bijbelplaatjes.nl
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