God Gives a New Heart

Why do we find so many Bible verses that speak of the heart? Modern science sees the heart as a fleshy blood pump, and it is.

But for about 60 years, many people have received a new heart through transplantation. In some cases, we read about patients who have experienced dramatic personality changes with their new blood pump.

A white factory worker in America got a new heart and started whistling classical music and befriending black colleagues. His new heart came from a 17-year-old black boy who was a talented violinist and studied classical music.

After her heart transplant, one girl had terrible nightmares. She saw a man coming into her bedroom through the window and attacking her. She was able to describe the man exactly.

It turned out that her heart came from a girl of the same age. This girl died when a man attacked her in her bedroom. The exact description of the man in the dreams enabled the police to find the murderer.

In your fleshy blood pump there is also a nerve centre, a kind of second brain. Your heart is closely connected to your soul and spirit and also to the computer in your head, that is, to your brain.

What did Jesus say?

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Mt 15:18–19 NIV

People who lead a bad life can have very hard hearts.

Jesus can give the very worst people a new heart.

After the war, some of the worst Nazi criminals were executed by the Allies.
The civilised Americans provided good German-speaking chaplains as pastors.

Some Nazis repented and died as forgiven sinners. Hitler's foreign minister, Von Ribbentrop, spoke to his wife shortly before his execution and pleaded from the bottom of his heart that their children should be brought up as Christians.

Many have deeply wounded hearts. A broken heart can be open to God's love. We must not judge anyone.

God loves all whose hearts are broken, whether they are good or bad.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV

God wants to give you a new heart, that is, a new character. He wants to heal you and purify your life inwardly. Why? Because he loves you.