Submitting to the Sword

Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

As an agronomist, I would pull out my Buck pocket knife to dig in the soil searching for newly planted seeds. The abrasive soil slowly dulled the once razor sharp blade. Similarly, a crooked or flimsy knife blade is absent value and earned confidence. Would you confidently approach a task requiring precise, clean cuts with such a knife? I too would lack notable assurance of accurate work.

Yet, frequently I hear those studying the Holy Bible attempt to drag the sword of the Spirit, the word of God through abrasive dirt. Further attempting to bend and twist the sword’s blade in an effort of avoiding cutting out their favorite beliefs and activities.

One church bishop denounced using scripture as a weapon. I don’t know about you, when my opinions contradict with scripture; my opinions are wrong. Attempts at altering the sword include, but not limited to: “Jesus is one of many routes to salvation,” “The Bible is out of date regarding divorce, marriage and sexuality.”

However, man has no power over God’s word, the sword of the Spirit. Even if we bend, twist and cause it to be flimsy in our mind; this sword remains straight and razor sharp from eternity past to eternity future, alpha and omega. This consistency benefits sinners submitted to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.

Anything parallel to the sword remains safe and uncut. Only those things out of alignment with scripture, the sword of the Spirit, will be cut and removed. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God, Jesus is the word made flesh; Jesus is the sword of the Spirit made flesh.

Submitting ourselves to Christ allows his light to fully illuminate our life, enabling confession and repentance of our sins to him. This allows permanent removal of these thoughts, words and actions by Christ the sword.

Removal of our sin by the sword of the Spirit purifies us before the Father. This removal is only possible with a razor sharp, straight, firm sword. Dodging the sword of the Spirit is dodging confession and repentance. Yes, the sword does inflict pain at times; however the pain of removal of sin and enhancement of righteousness is exponentially eternally worth it.

Just as patient undergoing surgery for the removal of deadly cancer tumors requires healing, we sometime require healing after the sword of the Spirit removes deadly thought, words, actions and habits from our life.

When facing the sword of the Spirit, Jesus Christ the word made flesh, we either respond with “I am Redeemed,” or “I am Offended.” The redeemed are released from their sin; healed and renewed in their relationship with the Father. The offended are cut by the sword of the Spirit, yet refusing submission for healing, redemption and renewal.

Submit yourself to Christ, the sword of the Spirit made flesh; for removal of sin and healing and renewal of your soul.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
www.rickemeyer.com