I am cool. There is no doubt about it. If you doubt it you are about to be proved wrong my friend. Very wrong. You see I own an umbrella. Oh yes. Eating your words now aren’t you? But not just any umbrella, you see my umbrella has a handle that is shaped like the handle of a samurai sword! I was giddy with excitement when I ordered it, but this quickly turned to panic when I realised that I might get tasered by the police who would not realise that the brolly was not a sharpened weapon that I was about to unleash on the unsuspecting public. And while in the comfort of my own home I have run around pretending it to be a real sword, out on the streets I use it to protect myself from downpours.
The Bible describes itself as a sword, in fact a double edged sword, yet many Christians use it like an umbrella rather than a sword. We cower under it, misusing and twisting it to protect ourselves from what God wants us to do, rather than letting it equip us to do what He wants us to do. The time we do actually unsheathe the sword we are so untrained with it we usually end up damaging ourselves or other Christians with our wild swipes and swings, and that’s not to mention the Christians who deliberately use it to engage in friendly fire incidents.
A good swordsman is trained, his weapon an extension of his body, his offence and defence a subtle dance of knowledge. He knows when to strike and when to parry. How well trained are you at using the Bible as a sword? Do you know when to attack, and when to defend? Or do you just wave it around willy nilly?
Hebrews 4:12 ‘For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’
Look how accurate a weapon it can be when used properly – soul from spirit, joints from marrow! May you become a good student, not so you just know the Bible, but so that you know how to use it. It’s quite literally a matter of life and death, for you and those around you.
In a strange coincidence Brandon Gilliland has also blogged on similar lines over at Grow Up! You should check it out here.
