Throwback message: Put up thy sword

Editors Note: This is a throwback message from Olin Williams, written for the June 2018 issue of the Biskinik. We hope that Pastor Williams will be back with a new message soon.

The Christian is a citizen of Heaven and subject to its law, which is unconditional love. In the kingdom of God, one conquers not by fighting, but by submitting.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth these instructions: “And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless: being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we entreat: we are made the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day” (1 Cor. 4:12,13).

Paul the elder taught the younger preacher Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.”

Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane when he was betrayed by one of his own, and the soldiers came to arrest him. Then, one of his disciples drew out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant.

In Matthew 26:52 we read the response of Jesus. Then said Jesus unto him, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”

Mankind by nature is a fighter. This is the law of the carnal nature. Mankind fights with his fist and sword, the tongue and wit. His kingdom is of this world so he fights for it with such weapons as this world provides. But the Christian is bound by the law of the new life in Heaven.

By recognizing this and obeying it, that new life can be sustained and passed on to others. Putting up the sword (tongue) is much needed today. James said we control the great ships and the animal life but cannot control our tongue. He says in James 3:8, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.