Would it be that everyone would echo the plea of David in Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” This isn’t a plea for everyone to yearn for this. Many people have no interest in a clean heart or a steadfast spirit. To each his own. Life barrels on for everyone, each to his own end in this life and eternal life in the next.
But what if someone desired a clean heart and a steadfast spirit? Should he dedicate himself to listening to Oprah? Or Elvis? Do yoga? Should he refrain from watching the NFL? Climb out of his recliner?
Maybe it sounds impossible? That’s exactly the sentiment offered by Solomon in Proverbs 20:9: “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart; I am pure from my sin?’”
It’s a rhetorical question, and the answer is ‘no one.’ Is this the end, then, for anyone who desires a clean heart and a steadfast spirit? Thankfully, God’s Word provides a perfect path, and it begins with Jesus.
At first glance, we might cringe at His words in Matthew 26:27-28: “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.’”
The unforgiven sinner can never possess a clean enough heart to approach our holy God. Think of the person who determinedly mutters, “Surely, I gain heaven if I perform a million good deeds in my life.” If he lived 80 years, he would need to do over 34 deeds per day. Even more if he took a day off during the week to rest. If he contracted chicken pox, it would throw his entire schedule off.
Far, far simpler to put one’s trust in Jesus. Ephesians 1:7-8 puts it perfectly: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished on us.”
Putting our full trust in Jesus creates clean hearts for us. We can set aside the ponderous volumes of good deeds we have planned. Finally, we can sleep at night.
You look in a mirror. A smile brightens your face. You’ve never looked better or happier. Letting out a happy sigh, you even wink at yourself. No more pressure to commit good deeds. Yes, I said ‘commit.’ Tomorrow, your plan is to sleep until 11, then go to WalMart in your pajamas.
Not so fast. Jesus has gifted you a clean heart through His forgiveness. But what about the steadfast spirit you also requested?
Jesus died so that we might have a clean heart. The Holy Spirit came so that we might have a steadfast spirit. Jesus makes this promise in John 14:16-17: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
The grandest goal of the Holy Spirit is His desire to grow within us the wondrous capacity to love all others before ourselves. To become, at our foundational core, selfless people. That perfectly describes the essence of the steadfast spirit.
Using metaphor, Jesus puts it a wonderful way: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him were to receive…” (John 7:38-39a)
Ponder having selfless, steadfast love for your God. Or selfless, steadfast love for the people God puts in your path. Not only good deeds would pour forth, but good deeds immersed in an inexplicable love. It pours forth like a river, and thirsty people are so refreshed by it, their lives change. They want what you have.
That’s the power of blood and water. His blood and the Holy Spirit’s water. Nothing more powerful exists.