CREATE in me a clean heart, O God" (Ps. 51:10). Verse 17 tells us that this was the cry of a broken heart, one convinced of God's requiring truth in the inward parts, yet finding nothing there but evil. It is not the consequences of sin that appall, but the sin itself ever before him. Has another shared his sin, and again another been wronged by it? It is as nothing to the one thought that outweighs every other—the sin is against God. "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned." This heart had thought itself capable of a little good maybe, but the last spark of hope is quenched by an awful outbreak of evil, as the letting loose of waters. It stands revealed like a boundless reservoir of pollution. It knew that every outflowing channel had hitherto been only the gall of bitterness; there is no hiding now that the whole is corrupt. Its thoughts were only evil continually, itself deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.
What a discovery! The heart a great storehouse of evil inclinations, only needing suggestion and temptation to turn desire into sinful action. Or a secret den where its likes and dislikes plot the dishonor of God. So the spirit is mortally wounded and cries to God. Through fear of the punishment of sin, the terror of the Lord may make the soul cry out in anguish; such is not the end of the way of repentance.
Here is that profoundest grief, utter disappointment with self, the discovery "I am not worthy," after searching the heart in vain for the least good. The soul knows not where to turn. There is nowhere to turn—but to God. It may only be a glimmer of hope, the heart saying, "If I perish, I perish," as it presents its need where only death is deserved. How welcome the gospel to such a one! It remains not doubtful whether He will show favor. "The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him," even that "God is love.”
Do you, reader, recognize your own true need of this "clean heart"? Have you exhausted yourself and your resources in fruitless efforts to bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Thank God! this is the time that the soul, at its wit's end, comes to itself.
Awaking sadly from the sleep of folly and vain dreams is not yet to awake without hope. There's a refuge in God. Reformation of the carnal heart may not, cannot be; it is changelessly at enmity against God. But God can create. None ever cried from the depths, "Create in me a clean heart, O God," and was not heard.
He purifies the heart by faith (Acts 15:9), even so that the Holy Spirit may abide there. So it was with Cornelius, the Gentile, and his friends, whom religious prejudice would have excluded from the blessing. If none but He can create a clean heart, who can resist Him when He does so? Peter found it impossible. God is more gracious than the best of men; His loving-kindness is amazing, above the thoughts even of His servants. He who is able, is also willing to cleanse without respect of persons.
Reader, fix your eyes upon the Crucified. "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).
As the artist thrusts his subject to the foreground of the canvas, but paints it last, this concluding verse of the record of Peter's preaching to Cornelius and others is the prominence of his gospel picture. You have seen the dark background—the judgment to come, and the sin that occasions it. See now the Anointed of God, powerful and holy, healing all that were oppressed of the devil, yet slain, and hanged on a tree. He died for you. The penalty of the sin that distresses you He paid.
"He bore, that we might never bear,
Th' Almighty's righteous ire,”
Will you not mark well the precious “whosoever "?" Through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Looking to Him and believing, God will purify your heart. Naught shall separate you from His love. The submission of faith to accept what He has done, the heart obedience to God's call to believe in Him will give you to be filled with gratitude and love that shall bind you forever to Him. Having freed you, He will go before you in the way, and you shall follow Him. His word will be your law, your perfect law of liberty. Living by Him, you shall live for Him. Your heart purified will have no happiness except in pleasing Him. Is not this what you seek?
T. D.