How can we ensure our hearts are open to God's examination? Digging Through the Wall (Ezekiel 8:8) “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, now dig through the wall.’ So I dug through the wall and discovered a doorway.” • In the vision, the prophet literally breaks through a barrier and finds hidden idolatry inside the temple. • The scene reminds us that God sees past every surface and will expose whatever is concealed. • Our responsibility is to “dig” with Him—inviting His gaze, rather than resisting it. Hidden Walls in Our Hearts • Like the temple leaders, we can erect inner partitions: secret sins, unconfessed attitudes, private loyalties that compete with love for God. • Jeremiah 17:10—“I, the LORD, search the heart; I test the mind…” • Hebrews 4:13—“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” • God already knows what is behind the wall; openness benefits us, not Him. Transparency is the path to cleansing, freedom, and deeper fellowship. God’s Examining Light in Scripture • Hebrews 4:12—“The word of God is living and active… it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” • Psalm 139:23-24—“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.” • The Word functions as the divine shovel: every time we read, hear, or meditate on Scripture, it chips away at hidden compartments. Practical Ways to Stay Open to Examination 1. Daily, honest Bible intake – Read slowly, asking what the passage exposes about motives, not just behaviour. 2. Prompt confession – 1 John 1:9 promises cleansing the moment we agree with God about sin. 3. Invite accountability – Proverbs 27:17: fellow believers sharpen one another; a trusted friend can lovingly point out blind spots. 4. Guard your affections – Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart with all diligence”; monitor what you watch, read, and cherish. 5. Cultivate reverent silence before God – In quiet reflection, the Spirit highlights issues that hurry can keep concealed. 6. Keep short accounts – Repent quickly; do not let attitudes harden into walls. Ephesians 4:26–27 warns against giving the devil a foothold. 7. Celebrate grace – Rejoice that exposure is never for shame alone but for restoration and joy. Living as a Cleansed Temple • When we cooperate with God’s examination, idols are removed, and worship becomes wholehearted. • Ezekiel’s temple vision later unfolds into a promise of God’s glory returning (Ezekiel 43). Openness prepares us for the same reality: His presence filling every room of our lives. |
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