Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “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, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him of Him with Whom we have to do.” It is important for us to know that the Word of God is alive and powerful, thus it is needful for us to come to it with open minds and hearts to hear it; learn its message and seek to obey what it commands us to do. Many people seem to think that God is anxious to condemn mankind for its sin. Actually, we are condemned already, but not because God wishes to condemn us, but because we have not obeyed God and His Word.
Perhaps someone might want to say, “But I did not choose to be born, or I did not choose to know God, or not to know Him. I am caught in a bind that I did not create”. In some sense we might be able to think this, but the problem is that we are all a part of a fallen, sinful race. This can easily be proven by listening to the news reports that show all kinds of wicked things humanity does. Oh, we are not all involved in all of the wicked actions that some portray, yet we are all rebels against God, until we come to submit to Him. The common statement that we often hear from humanity is that is man is his own boss, and each person has to decide what is right for him. Do we realize how shallow that kind of thinking is? We did not start in life by making our own decisions, rather we started with tender care from our mothers, if indeed one has had a good mother, for all mothers do not love and care for their children. The general idea, however, is that a parent cares for her offspring. We can even get a good picture of this from the animal world. Some people have decided not to treat their children with care, but that has so far been the exception. If we as parents, and I have two sons, one of which is already in heaven, care for our children, would it not make sense that our Creator would care for us? It amazes me that God has given us His word, and we have it recorded in the Bible, thus we can learn about the love and care that God has for us.
Some people, however, view the Bible as a “list of things to do and things not to do”, but that is not really what the Bible is all about. Rather, the Bible is a love letter from God to humanity, with also commands concerning what we should do, or should not do. The problem, however, is that mankind seems to think that God is “out to get us”, which is so far from the truth that it is not funny! Do you remember what John 3:16 says? It says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God is seeking to get mankind ready to live forever with Him in a perfect world, but the devil has so warped the thinking of humanity that most people seem to think that God is an enemy! It would be rather absurd for God to make man in His Own image, and then to seek to mare that image. Yes, the image is marred, but God did not do it; we did!
Our verses above say that God’s Word is “quick”, or “alive” and powerful, and that it can discern the thoughts and intents of our hearts. God, however, is not seeking to “discern the intents of the hearts of men” simply to condemn us, for we are condemned already by our sins. Rather, God is seeking to give us the information that we need to seek Him for salvation, so that we can live forever with Him in a world that is perfected, with no sin or sinners in it! Sometimes we speak of “heaven” in a way that makes others wonder just how good, or ho far away, this place might be. The fact is: God is going to create new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home, according to II Peter 3:13, so we who know God in salvation by faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection will be in a perfect world someday, with the heavenly Jerusalem coming down to the new earth.
By J. Briggs King, Rainsville, AL (678) 451-0921