The Living Word…Living the Word

 

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account” (Heb. 4:12-13).

 

What makes Scripture different from all other literature? It is God breathed, inspired, endued with those qualities which God Himself possesses. So, the Hebrew writer can accurately state it is living and effective. It is living in that it is active, enduring, and opposed to what is dead, inactive, and transient. It is effective in what it is capable of doing, being active, powerful, and applicable to all our life situations. The Hebrew writer goes on to emphasize how important this is to us, as it alone can allow us to take inventory of our lives and make the changes necessary to give an account to God that enables us to stand acceptable before Him on the day of judgment.

 

There are two takeaways from what the writer explains to us about God’s holy word. First, Scripture is always applicable to us, no matter the time, no matter the conditions, no matter what. It is always true, even though externals may change, and society seeks to redefine what truth may be and how that fits into a person’s definition of themself. It can see through any façade we may erect to keep from discerning who we are and what God says we should be. Peter reminds us, “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet. 1:23).

 

Enduring carries the idea of perpetuity, i.e., to remain or endure forever, to be unending in what it is and what it does. There are those who say it no longer applies due to its antiquity. However, being living and active, it is always fresh and relevant, no matter the times in which it exists. It is also never ending in its application to how we live, from birth to death. No one can say, “I’ve read the Bible once, and that is enough.” Every time you approach it, you will find something different, something new and fresh, something insightful for the circumstances you are currently facing. To stay away from its influence is to cheat oneself on help, strength, and courage for all of life.

 

If none of this seems important, then also consider how the Hebrew writer tells us it can judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart before we will stand in the presence of Him with whom we must give an account. Most people in and out of the church seem to believe how they feel will determine their eternal destiny, but it’s how we live that speaks authoritatively of this. While God offers us forgiveness through the blood of Christ, we will be judged by how we live for Christ, or not. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). What a tragedy it is to consider we can know how to live to gain eternal life, but instead be deceived by the fleeting feelings of the carnal. It offers us everything we need for life and godliness, but for so many it lies idle, because sin wants us to avoid it, and we all too readily give way to those desires instead.

 

Can anyone honestly say they don’t have time to allow Scripture to speak to us daily? There will be plenty of time after judgment to consider what such a decision has brought to life. Today, consider what the psalmist tells us; “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” (Psa. 119:11). Let the living God speak through His living word on how to live the word in your life today.

 

μαράνα θᾶ

Robert