Pollution of the Heart

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (…) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:2 and 6 NIV 

“I want to wash away the pollution in your heart that you don’t even realize is there.” That was the whisper I felt early on a Sunday morning in church. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but it seemed like a positive thing, so why not?

Looking back, it amazes me to see how God knows what I need before I even notice it. Jeremiah 17:10 says, “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind” (NIV). God knows what needs to be redeemed in our own hearts long before we even realize something is wrong. The definition of pollution is “the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.” We all have “the presence of a substance with harmful or poisonous effects” no matter what name it may bear – whether you call it shame, condemnation, fear, lies, pride, sin, jealousy, selfishness, unforgiveness, etc.

Pollution can be a sneaky thing because we can become so familiar with it that it no longer bothers us. Just like living in a city with smog affecting the quality of the air we breathe – we might be very aware of it at first, but then we simply get used to it. But God knows there’s an intruder with harmful or poisonous effects, no matter how familiar we might feel towards it.

The good news is that God doesn’t just know about it; He also has a plan to heal, save and redeem us. He wants to remove the pollution we’ve become so accustomed to. This December, let us remember His ultimate plan to redeem and remove the pollution of our hearts; His own presence, Immanuel, God with Us. Let’s celebrate Christmas as a people He has redeemed and restored. Let’s remember the special time in history when “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9 NIV.

Heavenly Father, thank you that You care so much about us that You already had a redemptive plan in place for us long, long before we drew our first breath. Thank you for Your faithfulness that won’t give up on us and Your goodness that pursues us. Come into our lives and breathe a fresh wind, remove the pollution You find in us and wash us clean. Revive us this season and bring Your beautiful joy into our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!