Instrument of War

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.” –Hebrews 4:12, NET

Growing up, my sister would poke fun at me for having imaginary battles (mainly due to the sound effects that accompanied my play). Now as a parent, I am blessed to catch glimpses of my youngest son running around outside, engaged in a great conflict only he can see. It makes me smile as I recall the feelings of heroics and purpose, even if it was all in my imagination. But I also recall the awkward embarrassment felt when someone would catch me in the act and laugh at the silliness of it all.

And so will it be sometimes when a Christian soldier takes up the sword of God’s word and engages in holy war. We will appear as a little boy high upon a rock swinging an unseen sword at apparently nothing, while our opponent jeers and mocks us to jump down from the rock and exchange physical blows with him. But we must not surrender the high ground.

However, this is precisely what we do when we seek to persuade and debate by logic and reasoning alone. Whether by our opponent’s jeers (“I don’t give any credibility to that book”) or haste, or inexperience, we have swapped our sword for a more comfortable intellectual stick, jumping down to a lower battlefield plane of the mind where combat is more visible. We have forfeited our power (1Co 2:4-5) and are trusting in our understanding and not leaning wholeheartedly on God (Pro 3:5).

“The word of God is always most precious to the man who most lives upon it.” –Charles H. Spurgeon

And so we must demonstrate its worth to us by our usage of it. And not just with memorized verses, but the praises of God must be forever on our lips.

“May the praises of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands.” –Psalm 149:6

“Israel had a war to fight
but the Lord showed them the secret
He said the battle this day is mine
But you must listen how to do it
Put your singers first in front of the rest
Let them praise and sing to me
And you will see the salvation of your God
And watch your enemies flee”
(Petra, “Let Every Thing That Has Breath”) (See 2 Chronicles 20)

The world will no doubt be perplexed and frustrated if we refuse to engage in a battle they can understand and with which they can contend. While we are enemies (and if we are truly living for Christ, they will treat us as such), we must remember that the battle is not fought against them (Eph 6:12). Instead of exchanging blows, we speak the praises of God and defend with Truth (Psa 149:6; Eph 6:17). It may feel strange in conversation with people who do not value it. It may seem like babel. But if we drop our swords and start arguing with reason alone, we have left the spiritual battlefield.

But understand this: God's word is beyond written text or verbal syllables, but backed by an empowering Spirit that brings power (1Co 4:20) and understanding (1Co 2:12-14). This is why many can read the Bible and walk away empty or with only trinkets to help them pursue selfish pleasures. They may look upon the beautiful sword and admire it, but they can never grasp it without faith (Heb 11:6; Jam 1:6-8). Like The Sword in the Stone, our weapon can only be drawn out by a soldier of Christ who has fastened truth around his waist (John 14:6), prepared himself to stand and walk by making peace with God (Rom 5:1-2), taken faith in God as his only shield (1Pe 1:5; Gen 15:1), and sought to have his mind wrapped in God’s salvation (Psa 140:7; Phi 4:7) (Eph 6:14-17).

So let His words be our words, not mere mottos memorized in the mind or citations clenched into a cerebral fist. May what comes from the mouth (Luke 6:45) be an outflow of a heart saturated in daily consumption of His words (Mat 4:4), anchored in love (1Co 13:1-3; 16:14) and faith to the Spirit that changes mere letters and sounds into comprehendible knowledge (Acts 2:1-8). So strap on the armor, draw forth the sword, practice its swing daily before the LORD, and be ready to use it with deadly accuracy (2Ti 2:15) whenever the spiritual assault comes upon you.

*Artwork above by Kevin Carden