Weeding to the Roots

And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads,” declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 11:19-21)

One of the frustrating things that came out of the fall of man is all of the thorns, thistles and weeds! One can spend hours in their garden or landscaping just trying to get rid of weeds. Hearty critters, those weeds1 we spend a lot of money on herbicides, pre-emergents, and garden tools just to remove them only to see them come back. 

Why are these weeds so hearty? The same reason the faith of many is so weak! Roots! Weeds have strong roots! To kill them, we must kill the roots. Conversely, the faith of some has very weak roots and folds at the slightest adversity. The weedy, worldy roots of these folks are much stronger and allow the weeds of corruption to grow within them. 

The root of a person can be found in his heart. What has been placed there? Has a strong sense of desire for God been instilled by loving family? Has a drive for His love and divine righteousness been fostered? Has a yearning for His word been implanted? Or has he been taught to seem the things of the world and the flesh? What we are taught and ingrained with are what take root in our hearts and drive our motivations, actions and behaviors.

What of the person who has been raised with that heart of stone that represents the world and fleshly desires? Is there no hope in turning him to God? May it never be so! But it requires getting to the root of the problem! Anything else is just mowing down the visible weeds only to see them return.

Real change is affected when the person realizes the field of weeds he resides in, goes to his knees and begs God to change his heart. The Bible tells us that if we will only forsake the false idolatry of the world He will replace our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh and write His laws on them (Hebrews 8:10). There is a way out of the weeds! That way is through Jesus Christ. 

Believe in Jesus and all that He did for us! He, and only He, can save you from the weeds of sin that are threatening to choke off any fruitful garden within you!