The Sword and the Scalpel
The Sword and the Scalpel
Hebrews 4:12-13 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. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The wound refused to heal. The flesh surrounding the wound was hot, pink and tender. The doctor’s brow furrowed as he poked around the wound and spoke in low tones to the nurse, who scurried away. The wound was deeply infected, the doctor said, it would have to the lanced, infection drained, cleansed and perhaps packed. The nurse returned with a cart, on the cart were medical supplies in tidy rows, the silver blade of the scalpel glinted in the light. The doctor explained the procedure; the patient didn’t hear. His eyes were fixed on the glinting silver blade on the cart. It was true that the wound refused to heal, was painful and intervention was needed, but the scalpel? Yes, the scalpel. If the wound was ever going to heal, the scalpel must be part of that plan.
As the doctor lanced, drained and packed the wound to enable physical healing, so the Spirit of God desires to pursue the healing of our souls. To do this, he must remove the infectious sins that impede our spiritual healing. The scripture describes His word as a sharp, two-edged sword. Swords lacerate, wound and even kill! True, but in the hands of our Great Physician, the sword of the Spirit is an instrument of healing.
Due to our innate depravity, besetting sins are imbedded in the deep tissue of our souls like infectious bacteria. Allowed to remain, those sins multiply, leaving our souls riddled with festering infection. As the doctor cleansed the wound, so our Great Physician cleanses our souls with truth, leading to repentance. He then packs our wounded souls with the healing balm of grace.
Here’s how it works.
Scripture says: “I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing” (Psalm 101:2-3).
My flesh cries out for gratification and pulls me toward media choices that promote immorality, or even creepy, twisted behavior. The truth speaks clearly and yet my self-will clutches what it desires—I feel the deep slice of the sword of truth and know my self-will must die if I will be healed and whole.
Scripture says: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).
My pride flares up, declaring it will submit to no one, and the sword of truth plunges into a pocket of infection in my soul. I am ashamed and cry out with the apostle of grace:
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25).
The ultimate goal of the sword of truth, is our healing, wholeness--experiencing the abundant life He offers in all its fullness. Without the sword of truth, our only option is to remain entangled in besetting sins, observing the abundant life from a distance, yet never truly partaking. Without the sword, there can be no healing. Therefore, I welcome the sword, for by it I am healed and set free to run in pathways of the abundant life.