Text: Romans 10:8-13
We
don’t hide what’s in our hearts very well. What we believe and
feel deep down will in one way or another come out in our outward
expressions. Believe it or not people are an easy read if you just
watch them for a while. If we do try to hide what’s in there as if
to play a bluff in the great poker game of life, it will affect our
sense of integrity to the point of where we begin to feel like we are
living a lie and it becomes destructive. So it is best we just be
open with what’s in there difficult though that may be.
Another
thing worth saying is that when we do act upon what is in our heart
what comes forth in our outward expressions, in our words might I
say, it sets in motion a chain of events that is so often
irrevocable. This may be why we are so reluctant with trying to be
open with what’s truly deep within us. For, when we open up,
reality for us will change. Our words, our actions are powerful
things for in them we posses the capability literally to change the
course of history. So, if you think you are insignificant in the
course of things, think again. It is an awesome thing that history
is shaped to a large extent by the outward expressions of the hearts
of people. Then to think that the Trinity works in and through this
chaos to bring his gracious will about is an even greater mystery.
When
Paul here writes, quoting from the Book of Deuteronomy, “The word
is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” he is reflecting upon
this powerful relationship between what’s in the heart and how it
comes forth in our outward expressions with the ability to alter
history. Except in this case he is talking about the Word of God,
the outward expression of the heart of the Trinity which has ultimate
sway on our lives and history by creating faith in us and more
importantly by transforming our hearts with the power of Jesus
Christ’s resurrection to reflect his own. This Word is the Trinity
expressing his powerful, gracious love—his heart—into the human
heart and thereby altering human history to sway our course towards
the final day when his steadfast love and faithfulness put an end to
the chaotic mess created by our acting out the self-bentness of our
own hearts; the day when the heart of humanity and the heart of the
Trinity are one. From his heart the Trinity spoke the Word of
creation that brought everything into existence and gives us life.
From his heart the Trinity spoke the Word of grace in Jesus Christ by
him united himself to humanity, took upon himself the consequence of
our self-bentness, suffered, died, and went to hell for us, and was
raised from death, victorious over it, and now he reigns in power for
us at the right hand of the Father. The Trinity continues to speak
that Word today through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
who lives in our hearts and guides our outward expressions to be
expressions of the loving heart of the Trinity.
Have
you ever wondered what that “sitting at the right hand of God the
Father" is all about that we confess in the Apostles Creed and
indeed, it is what is at the heart of what we confess when we say
“Jesus is Lord?” It means first that Christ has really taken
human life into the heart and life of the Trinity and this cannot do
other than transform our self-bent hearts to be like Jesus' own.
Just as the life of the Trinity entered into the life of humanity the
moment Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb so also now in him,
through his cross and resurrection and ascension, he has taken human
life back into the life of the Trinity.
Now
that’s pretty deep and abstract I know and doesn’t make much
sense until you realize that it is real not only in heaven but also
real to us here on earth from whom heaven is veiled through our union
with the Trinity through Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit, our bit of
grace. For Jesus to sit at the Father's right hand is for us by
means of our union to him in the Holy Spirit to sit in the unmerited
favour of the Father's blessing which is the Trinity’s very
presence with us. It is to sit in the Father's presence in Christ by
our union to him in the free gift of the Holy Spirit given to us on
account of Jesus faithfulness and obedience and his alone. To sit in
the Trinity’s presence is to sit in the creative Word of the
Trinity’s own heart that saves us and that word is near you, in
your mouth and in your heart. It is the confession that “Jesus is
Lord” that arises out of our own hearts as a result of the Trinity
leading us to trust in him and his love for us.
We
cannot make the confession of Jesus’ Lordship unless we believe in
our hearts that the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit raised him
from the dead. This believing isn’t something we just up and do.
Faith comes about as a result of the Trinity being in relationship
with us and therein proving to us his steadfast love and
faithfulness. Then the Trinity seals faith upon our hearts by
sending the Holy Spirit to live in us. The Holy Spirit's presence
with us is the proof of the Trinity's love for us. It is his love,
his self. The Holy Spirit's presence with and in us attests to us
the ultimate proof of the Trinity’s love that while we were yet
sinners Christ died for us. It attests to the fact that the Trinity
raised Jesus from the dead and that he now sits at the Father’s
right hand reigning in power for us as the Lord of all creation. The
Spirit testifies to us that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life
for us. He is the loving presence of the Trinity’s own heart with
us that speaks the word of new life into us and saves us now and for
eternity. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to say with courage
that Jesus Christ is “my” Lord. Therefore, we strive to serve
him and not ourselves or any other idol. He is who lives in our
hearts and makes our lives his own. Our lives are hidden with Christ
Jesus in the life of the Trinity as Paul writes, “For
you have died, and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ who is your
life
appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:3-4).
We can no longer trust anything but him and we will be saved.
The
first question of the Heidelberg Catechism reads: What is your only
comfort in life and in death? The answer is: “That I with body and
soul, both in life and in death am not my own, but belong to my
faithful saviour Jesus Christ; who with his precious blood, has fully
satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from the devil; and so
preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair
can fall from my head; indeed, that all things must be subservient to
my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me
of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready,
henceforth, to live unto him.” I don’t think I can say it any
better than that. That’s the Word of faith from the heart of the
Trinity which changes our hearts so that his Word is our word. Amen.
