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"...and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword." (Rev 1:16)



and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17b) 

      The sword is the one offensive weapon we have available. It is the same weapon Jesus used when He was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4 and Luke 4.) This brings us back to the fact that we are not doing battle against flesh and blood. It is a war of words. It is not a war against people, it is a war against ideas.  Our society, even our Christian society, is too ready to take the war to the courts, or to a physical battle field. Too many Christians place their hope in their Colt, Beretta, or Sig Sauer and not in the Word of God. They say that they are battling against Colts, Berettas and Sig Sauers. It's only logical, and one shouldn't be so heavenly minded he's of no earthly good, they say, but they miss what Scripture says. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36) Jim Eliot said it well, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."  We focus on protecting the body, which we cannot keep, instead of furthering the Kingdom which we cannot lose. Our treasure is on Earth rather than in Heaven. I don't pretend that the thought of suffering is not frightening, but.... 

    O soul, are you weary and troubled?
    No light in the darkness you see?
    There’s light for a look at the Savior,
    And life more abundant and free!
    • Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
      Look full in His wonderful face,
      And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
      In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace


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