When Jesus walked among us, he did not take arms against his enemies. He did not hire a political strategist or form a coup. His weapons of war were much different, and as believers, so are ours. Though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. Our weapons are spiritual and have divine power to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). We have several defenses in our armory but only one offensive weapon: the Word of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).
Divine truth is the sword we wield. Countless theories, philosophies, and worldviews have been raised against the knowledge of God. The natural man knows God exists and that he is righteous and good. He also knows he has fallen short of God’s glory. Instead of turning to his creator in light of this knowledge, he runs away and works to suppress the truth he knows (Romans 1:18).
In suppressing the truth, he builds his fortresses to buttress himself against God’s word. His complex interwoven arguments of naturalism, paganism, and other false religions cannot save him. Instead, they cut him off from the source of life.
In walks a Christian who has been set free from his self-destructive self-delusion by the Holy Spirit, and he is carrying a sword. It is the same sword that the Holy Spirit used to set him free. It is the same weapon used by the prophets and the apostles to turn the world upside-down. It is the foundation of our faith.
Noah used it to warn people of the coming flood (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham followed it out to receive a promised land (Hebrews 11:8). When he was dying, Jacob used it to bless each of his sons (Hebrews 11:21). Moses carried this sword when he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:24-25). The people of Israel used this sword to escape slavery and cross the Red Sea (Hebrews 11:29). It is the same sword that was in the hands of the people of God when the walls of Jericho fell (Hebrews 11:30).
Some have been tortured because of this sword, knowing that they will rise to a better life. Others suffered mocking and floggings and even chains and imprisonment. Some were stoned, and others were sawn in two. This sword caused some to go about in the skin of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. These are people of which the world was not worthy (Hebrews 11:37-38).
The reason the world hates this sword is that it is powerful. It destroys arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). It exposes this world’s fortresses as the sandcastles they are. They cannot stand against the word of God though many will defend their sandcastles with violence. Many Christians have been martyred because the lost refused to leave their crumbling walls of Jericho and, instead, attack physically.
Despite all this, the believer will never stop preaching the word of God. It is the rock upon which he stands. He has built his house upon it, and when the rains come, even martyrdom, his house will not wash away. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, pick up your sword and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
-D. Eaton
The Fight of Faith 