Pistis ~ You have my sword

I am having an increasing love for epic historical movies: Legend of the Seeker, Lord of the Rings, Merlin, Chronicles of Narnia, and Sparta 300 among others. Two kingdoms with swords drawn against each other with all sides pledging loyalty to their respective commanders and their agenda, even to the death (Sparta 300 comes to mind here – that movie sure leaves some indelible mental scenes! **”THIS IS SPARTA!!”**). You will often hear the sentence ‘My sword is yours’, indicating a pledge of allegiance to the leader.

I learned the Greek word, Pistis, in one of the Chi Alpha meetings*, used in the New Testament to refer to ‘faith’. While it refers to faith as we often think of it – believing things against normal human reasoning – it also extends ‘faith’ to ‘faith-full,‘ faithfulness. I hold the Biblical picture of marriage very highly. When a husband and wife pledge to be faithful to each other, it implies that they will be faithful physically, faithful emotionally, faithful mentally – all round faithful! It is the most beautiful part of weddings. “I pledge my allegiance to you”. “I swear my fidelity to you.” “YOU HAVE MY SWORD!”

It is Easter time again, and we will soon have many people singing about the risen King, Jesus. And He really is King! But the question is: Is He MY King? On what side of the battle am I fighting? Regardless of what I say with my lips, who really has my sword? Is he a King or is He my King?

Have you ever read this passage in Psalms 139:23-24?

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong – then guide me on the road to eternal life (MSG).

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (NLT)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart”! And we wonder why David is called a man after God’s heart when he prayed like this. This type of prayer is against man’s very nature, but the effects of sincere words such as these are as beautiful and powerful as they are devastating. Such a brave prayer point! When light from pure Holiness permeates the deep, dark crevices of the heart, it may not be a beautiful process (“what will He ask me to give up?” “What will He ask me to do?”), but you can be certain it will be a beautiful outcome.

What will it look like if I asked God to search my heart? What will it look like when the light brings up and out all the pride and lust and lies, even those shrouded in veils upon veils of deceit and secrecy? What will it look like if I emptied all that garbage at his feet? What will the different aspects of my life – my time, vocation, experiences, sexuality, relationships, etc. – look like if I bow my knee and say “My King, you have my sword!”?

In a parable Jesus told about the kingdom of God, the Master said to his servant ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…. Enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25: 21, ESV).

Words of affirmation mean a lot to me; I can only imagine what it will be like to receive this commendation. I am reminded that it is not by professing to be of the faith that we are part of the army. We are told that “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ (*or preaches, or sings in the choir, or serves in the PCC, or attends outreaches, or prophesies, or does other great things) will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, ESV). The Kingdom is for those who are surrendered, those who are faithful and are sworn in loyalty, even to the death, for those whose swords are drawn in submission to the Commander.

What will it look like if I ask God to search my heart? What will it look like if I bow my knee and say “My King, you have my sword?”

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I looked at his left hand, which had held on to the thorny tree limb. It was covered with red mud. I reached down into my bulging pocket, full of nails. I spilled them at his feet. Maybe I’d find them in my pocket again, as I always seemed to, but here now, I was determined to have nothing to do with them.

“There are two kinds of people,” he said. “Those who deny they carry the nails and those who admit it. My followers admit it and empty them often at my feet, just as you have done.”

Edge of Eternity ~ Randy Alcorn