On the night of Jesus’ betrayal when Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, he made a statement which has proven to be true down through the ages.  He said, “ for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt. 26:52).”  A look at the history of noted criminals has verified this statement.  Perhaps this is what started  the old saying “give a man enough rope and he will hang himself.” 

 

A noted minister once said that as we live so shall we die.  This also has proven to be true in a great percentage of cases.  In other words we need to be aware that the life we now are living could well determine our struggles or ease of dying.  

But there is a paradox in these thoughts which is highly encouraging. The bible has often used the analogy of the sword to teach both good and evil.  Starting  in the Book of Genesis on through the Revelation this truth can be verified many, many times.  The other side of this coin can be seen in passages like the following: 

(1)   “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).    Bible students will recognize this scripture as a part of the Christian Armour.  The message of application here is to always try desperately hard to live by the words of the bible. They will give us courage as we face the difficulties of life plus enough  faith and  hope to sustain us in our death. 

(2) “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing  even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).  It is a book which will put us in line and help us to get back in line if we get out of line.   

 

In a world which is so full of violence, sickness and dying, it is still the greatest practice to live by “the sword of the Spirit” for it will promise you a much better life here as well as that which is to come” (1st Tim. 4:8) 

 

- Dennis R. Smith