The Opening of a Heart

It is likely that Lydia’s moving to Philippi was connected with her business. She was a seller of purple, or a supplier of purple-colored fabrics, which were customarily worn only by rich people. Undoubtedly, she had found a better market for her goods in Philippi. In any event, she was a woman of means. Her riches, however, were not a hindrance for the Lord. It is a blessed fact that nothing stands in the way of the Lord—neither our wealth nor our state of death.

We also read of Lydia that she worshipped God. That does not mean that she was converted but that she had left her heathen background and joined herself to the Jewish religion. She had become a Jewess who faithfully followed what was required of her, for we meet her on the Sabbath Day at the place of prayer. She was, therefore, a woman who was very religious. That in itself is a good custom, but it is not enough for the great eternity. She still had to be convinced of that necessity. Let us always remember that an outward change does not mean that there is an inward renewal. No matter how religious one may be, even religious people must be born again, for otherwise they will in no wise enter God’s kingdom.

If it will be well with you, your heart must be opened. That is what happened to Lydia. It does not say that Lydia opened her heart or that Paul opened her heart, but that the Lord opened her heart. God’s servants can point out the way, but they cannot bring anyone upon that way. They can wish and desire salvation for all people, but they cannot give it to any one of them. Paul can plant, Apollos can water, but God must give the increase. Must we then just sit passively by until God opens our heart? Ah, many do that, but they forget that faith comes by hearing. God therefore makes use of our natural ears. We must apply ourselves by listening closely. Lydia, therefore, paid close attention to what Paul preached. She listened respectfully and attentively. What a blessing if you could listen for once and not be busy with other things, yet it is possible to listen with a closed heart. Of Lydia we read that the Lord opened her heart. It had been closed. Is not our entire natural life pictured in these words?

It is possible that you are present so that when you are under the Word when it is preached, you listen to what is said and agree with all of it. You say, “The Word which is preached is the truth, and it is not right with me; things must change in my life.” It may be that you lie awake for a night, but slowly on, surely and steadily your concern fades away, and you again live on as before in your deadly carefree existence. How terrible that is—listening to God’s Word with a closed heart. In this way you greatly increase your guilt. You say, a person cannot open his or her own heart, can he? That is true, but has that ever become a burden for you? The fruit will be that you will begin to beg the Lord to open your heart. Did Lydia pray for that? No, because she thought that her heart was open—that became different when her heart was actually opened. Then she began to attend to the things which Paul preached. An arrow out of God’s quiver touched her heart. In this way she attended to the preaching, and it was as if a finger pointed directly to her. Her eyes were opened for the reality of her condition. She began to realize her misery. It was pressed into her heart that with all of her religion, she could not exist before God, and that her piety was nothing more than filthy rags. All her hopes for eternity were shattered.

That is what happens when we are touched by the Word. Then we must deal with a holy and righteous God, and we come to understand that we have provoked Him with our sins. Then there comes in our heart not only a fear but also a sorrow. We fall down at God’s feet as a lost sinner, and that is just where God’s Spirit wishes for us to be, for in this manner there is made room for grace and for Christ. We do not know all that Paul preached, but he certainly preached about death in Adam and life in Christ. He pointed to God, who is a consuming fire and an eternal burning, before whom no sinner can live. He is also a God who is still willing to have something to do with sinners, and who has therefore thought out a way in the Son of His eternal love so that through Him, sinners who were worthy of death could be saved. Paul pointed to Him who gave Himself a ransom for many, and whose blood cleanses from all sin. What Paul preached was applied by the Holy Spirit to the heart of Lydia. For her it became an unforgettable church service. Paul’s sermon became life, food and drink, question and answer for her soul. Have you ever experienced that?

Lydia basked in the wonders of God’s grace in Christ, who was willing to turn unto her and have compassion on her. Her opened heart was filled with Christ and the salvation which He has merited. Undoubtedly, Paul realized that there was one for whom the Word became alive, for then preaching was easy. Sometimes the Word bounces back to you as if it comes up against a wall, but when there are hungry ones, the Lord will see to it that there is food in His house. It became evident in the fruits that a wonder of free grace had been worked in the heart of Lydia. It was her desire to be baptized immediately. She wished to carry the ensign of King Jesus. She wished to openly express the desire of her heart, even though it might awaken an offense among the Jews and the enmity of the world. Even though she would lose all of her reputation and would even lose her daily bread, for her there was no other way.

Not only was she baptized but also her entire household. That means that she had spoken to the members of her own house, for they were in need of the same thing as she was. When a person may taste something of God’s grace, then he wishes it for the entire world but especially for those who are dear. That is why Lydia could not remain silent, and her words were spoken with power, for they were not just words, but the matters of the word were also present. That was why her words were spoken with a deep impression. Another fruit became visible, for when her heart was opened for the Lord, she opened her house for the Lord’s servants. She wished to have them lodge in her home, for she had come to love them. When the Word comes with power, a bond of love is also established with those who bring the Word.

Really, it is not such a good sign when you miss that bond of love, and it is a very bad sign if you dare to mock, despise, and slander God’s servants. God’s children have great respect for them and love them. Lydia opened her entire house for Paul and those who were with him. What blessed times they would have had with each other. How they would have spoken from heart to heart. Certainly, there had come an end to their stay, because Paul must go and preach the gospel in other places. Whether or not they ever saw one another again here upon earth, Scripture does not relate to us. One thing is certain, they have met again, for they have both rejoiced before the Throne for many years already.

Has your heart been opened already? Beg the God of Lydia that He will also glorify that wonder of grace in you! If your heart has been opened, with what is it then filled? When God’s Spirit opens the heart, then He does that to fill it with Christ. Then Christ becomes your life, and you wish to know nothing other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

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