Broken people!
(Don Fortner)
(Don Fortner)
a broken heart, and saves such as
have a contrite spirit." Psalm 34:18
A broken heart, a contrite spirit,
and a subdued will are rare things,
especially in this age in which men
everywhere are taught to demand
their rights; and the church has
become a place where man is exalted
and enshrined as though he were GOD.
Self-esteem, self-worth, and self-promotion
is the cry of the day. Every man does that
which is right in his own eyes. All men by
nature are exceedingly proud, selfish people.
Preachers today, knowing man's natural
pride, have capitalized upon it. They have
developed a flesh-pleasing theology of pride.
Our forefathers exalted the dignity,
the majesty, and the supremacy
of the eternal GOD.
But the smooth-tongued preachers of
deceit in our day have set themselves
to exalt the dignity, majesty, and
supremacy of puny man!
It seems that religion today is dedicated
not to the honor of GOD, but to the honor
of man. Its purpose is to make man feel
good about himself. Therefore we hear
little about . . .
brokenness of heart,
contrition of the soul, and
the subduing of man's will.
The LORD GOD declares,
that is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and trembles at MY Word!" (Isaiah 66:2).
GOD will have broken hearts with
which to build HIS kingdom. Sooner
or later, the LORD GOD will bring us
to nothingness before HIS presence.
GOD'S people, all of GOD'S people
are a broken people.
No man has ever experienced the grace
of GOD in salvation, until his heart
is thoroughly broken before the holy
LORD GOD, revealed in the crucified
SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
If ever a man finds out:
who he is,
who GOD is,
who the LORD JESUS CHRIST is,
and what HE has done for sinners--
he will be a broken man!
When Job saw himself in the presence
of his three miserable friends, he
vindicated himself. But when he stood
in the presence of GOD, he was a broken
man; and he spoke as a broken man.
He saw himself in all the hideousness
of his sin; and he saw GOD in all the holiness
of HIS glorious majesty. Then he said,
(Job 40:4)
I have heard of YOU by the hearing
of the ear: but now my eye sees YOU. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent
in dust and ashes!" (Job 42:5,6)
There is no pride and egotism here,
no haughtiness, no self-vindication.
Once Job had seen the LORD--
he was broken, he loathed himself
and blamed himself.
Once Job saw the LORD--
he honored GOD and vindicated HIM.
The truly broken heart will always
vindicate God, no matter the cost.
This brokenness can be produced in
proud, stubborn, sinful men and women--
only by the saving revelation of CHRIST
in our hearts. Brokenness is found at the cross--
only at the cross. Have you been to the cross?
Have you had the crucified CHRIST
revealed in your heart?
Has your heart been broken by the knowledge
of the LORD? O LORD, evermore break
our hearts before YOU!
spirit; a broken and a contrite heart,
O GOD, YOU will not despise."
Psalm 51:17
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