How Tough Are You?

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit..."
Hebrews 4:12

My cousin and his friend delivered ten cords of wood to me not too long ago. It’s that time of the year once again. It is a good chance to get some exercise and fresh air, and a great way to heat your house. I sharpened my chainsaw and started the task at hand, little by little, foot by foot, the wood is getting cut. One thing I noticed is that when the saw is sharp, my job is far simpler. If you know anything about wood, you know that the softwood cuts the easiest, and is the easiest on the saw. Cutting through fir is like going through butter, but birch is a different story. The harder wood is also quicker to dull the chain, and if you hit a nail you’re finished until you sharpen your chain once again. One thing is for sure, the more you cut, the more you sharpen—that’s the downside of machinery. Soon enough you will have to buy a new chain for the chainsaw. Thank God that His Word, like Himself, has no limits. The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. It doesn’t wear out or dull with use, it needs no sharpening, it is unfailing in its ability to pierce the soul of man and do its sacred work. What kind of wood can you be compared to? Is your soul soft and receptive so that the Word of God can do its work quickly? Or are you as hard as ironwood when it relates to following the Spirit’s prompting?

Kirk Piccott, Principal
First Baptist Academy