The Other Side of the Sword

I write these things while absent, that being present I may not deal sharply with you according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for pulling down. 2 Corinthians 13:10

Sharply – The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. So says Hebrews 4:12. Have you thought about those two edges? One cuts through all pretense, deceit and falsehood to reveal the truth. But what about the other edge? Maybe this word used by Paul gives us some insight – and some trepidation.

The Greek word apotomos is not used often. Perhaps that’s because it has such devastating implications. Koster suggests that this word signifies the “power of crushing judgment.” Paul is extremely hesitant to use this authority even though it has been granted to him, because to do so would weaken the community and might even destroy it. This is indeed the other side of the sword. The word of the Lord does cut through the excuses and rationalizations of those who refuse to believe. But it also stands in judgment over us – the ones who claim to be followers. When we do not emulate the character of the Christ within, God’s crushing judgment is revealed by those given His authority. They become harbingers of our souls, raining the awful power of God upon our hypocrisy.

We don’t like to think about the other side of the sword. How much nicer it is to turn the sword of the Lord upon those defiant unbelievers, seeing it penetrate their defenses and bring them to repentance. Woe unto us if we somehow begin to imagine that we are protected from the mighty power of His word simply because we have confessed our faith. No, my friends, you and I are even more exposed. We have opened our lives to the searing edge of His judgment; not because the Father of lights wishes to punish us with unspeakable terror, but because we have asked to be conformed to the image of His Son. That process of transformation requires that all that is not Spirit-led be sharply cut away from us. It’s such an obvious conclusion. If I truly embrace the thought of “Christ in me, the hope of glory,” then how can I expect my outward behavior to look like anything else except the hands and feet of Jesus? If it is His life within working out my salvation, then how could I imagine that my outward behavior will not be radically transformed?

I need both edges of the sword. I do not say that I enjoy both edges. The cutting process is often “crushing judgment” over some action or thought that I imagined I could keep as my own. God will never allow it. He is often required to slice it away in a bloody battle of spiritual submission. But cut He must, or I will not be fit to enter into His kingdom when my journey of preparation has ended.

“Lord, cut me where it counts.”