Under The Knife

“‘God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart.” Acts 2:36-37

Going under the knife is never fun, but being cut to the heart is how we heal. God’s initial surgery is salvation, where He removes our heart of stone—solid with sin—and transplants into us a heart of life—beating with His presence and power.

Operations are always done individually, but many patients felt the incision at Pentecost when Peter stood before the crowd and preached the message of Christ. They didn’t doubt that Jesus had really lived or that He had really died. They had seen the “miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among them through him”(Acts 2:22), and they were aware of the crucifixion, which, as Peter informed them, was not a martyr’s death but according to “God’s set purpose and foreknowledge(Acts 2:23). But the addendum of Christ’s resurrection and exaltation was a life-altering fact that slashed deep into their souls. “God has raised this Jesus to life…God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ”(Acts 2:32&36).

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?”(Acts 2:37). “Repent and receive,” Peter replied. “Receive His baptism, His forgiveness, and His Spirit”(Acts 2:38). “The promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call”(Acts 2:39). At that moment, as faith defeated doubt and fear, “about three thousand” of the crowd were made alive and made a part of the family of God(Acts 2:41).

It would be nice (or at least a whole lot less painful) if, at the point of salvation, God set down the knife and never again reached for His scalpel, but He doesn’t. He never even steps out of the operating room. After making us His, God continues to work in us and on us to make us more like Him. Though we are fully forgiven, we often fail and find ourselves with an attitude or action that is sinful. At these times, God presses the blade and by the conviction of His Spirit, the correction of His Word, or the confrontation of a friend who cares, slices and dices into our hearts. Because of His persevering grace, another transplant is not needed—just some opening up and cleaning out of our pride and selfishness. The discomfort and distress of being sorrowful for our sins preps the places we have damaged for the balm of grace and forgiveness to renew and restore.

If you haven’t yet accepted Christ, may the truth of His life, death, and resurrection cut to your heart and lead you to repent, believe, and receive, for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”(Acts 2:21). If you’re already His, don’t run from the knife but be willing to stay on the table. “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it”(Phil. 1:6). He is shaping your heart to be like His.

Being cut to the heart hurts, but consider the cross and remember that wounds are God’s way of healing.

P.S. The previous paragraphs were not written from personal authority but from personal experience, for I have had much practice in messin’ up and fessin’ up. I am constantly thankful for God’s astounding grace and for the kindness of friends and family who have forgiven me again and again. May God continue to make us all more like Jesus—even when it hurts.