Of the Word and Waterjets
In the past, only one piece of metal could be cut at a time with a saw or other metal cutting mechanical process. It took a lot of time and was expensive. Then came the invention and use of waterjets.
Low pressure waterjets were first used for mining gold in California in 1852. Steam and hot water jets were used in the early 1900s for cleaning. High pressure waterjets were used for mining in the 1960s. During the mid 2000s waterjets started to be used for cutting.
A waterjet is a tool used to cut with a (very) high pressure stream of water. Think of a waterjet as something with about 30 times the pressure of the power washer wand at our local car wash. Power washing at car washes is an example of a dirt film being “cut” off the body, wheels, and tires of our vehicles. The key to cutting metal with water is to keep the spray coherent. Waterjets are able to cut because the spray is channeled through a very narrow jeweled nozzle as a very high pressure to keep the spray coherent.
Waterjets can cut marble, granite, stone, metal, plastic, wood, and stainless steel. They can cut a sandwich of different materials up to four inches thick.
Unlike metal cutters, a waterjet never gets dull and it cannot overheat.
We are told in Scripture, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, NIV). It NEVER wears out, NEVER gets dull, NEVER overheats, but applies exactly the amount of heat needed for conviction or instruction.
God has given us this immensely powerful, useful tool. Wield it wisely!
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17, ESV).
Divine Eyewear
On April 8, 2024, the world stood in awe as God put on a great, cosmic show in the form of a total eclipse of the sun.
According to NASA and Space.org,
The great North American total solar eclipse of April 8 [2024] is over, but remember: Never observe the sun without proper protection. Get a pair of safe solar eclipse glasses from reputable dealers ... to ensure you and your family remain safe when observing future solar eclipses.
If you were actually going to see the moon eclipse the sun you had to put on a pair of specially made glasses. If you decided you were going to do it your way to look at the eclipse without proper eyewear, not only would it appear as nothing more than a big, bright blur, but your eyes would stand to suffer severe damage.
So in other words, to observe the sun, you need special glasses to not only see clearly, but to see safely.
In much the same way, we need God's spiritual glasses to clearly see Him and the world of activity, circumstances, and experiences all around us.
Our spiritual eyes were opened the day He touched us and we believed, but the need for us to daily see His will in our lives requires us to put on the glasses He has provided in His word.
The problem we all have, even if we are already believers in Christ, is that we have a distorted view of what God wants us to see. We go through life ignoring divine perspective.
As we face trials of all sorts that cause us pain, or aggravation, or even anger in us, we struggle to make sense of it all. Yet here are spiritual battles going on all around us. If we could physically see the spiritual world, we would be like the shepherds who saw the angels at Christ's birth and were greatly afraid. We are a part of a greater reality than our 5 senses can perceive.
Only in putting on the glasses of divine perspective, afforded through the Word of God, can we clearly (and safely!) navigate the challenges of life.
"Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law" (Psalms 119:18, Amplified Bible).
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, ESV).
"The Moscow Rules"
Once, while I was in the Washington, D.C., area holding a gospel meeting, I had the privilege of going through the International Spy Museum near Chinatown. Having an avid interest in both military history and the former Soviet Union, I was thrilled at the opportunity.
Although the museum displays how ancient the espionage game is, the greater part of the exhibits covers just the last 100 years. There is a whole section of the museum devoted to espionage during the Cold War. This period of intense espionage developed it's own “ten commandments” of spying (some say there are forty or more). The museum itself published ten of these so-called "Moscow Rules."
Some of these rules include: “assume nothing,” “don’t look back,” “there is no limit to a human being’s ability to rationalize the truth,” “maintain a natural pace,” “…if it feels wrong, it is wrong….”
Former CIA operative Jonna Mendez, as well as countless others, is quick to say that these rules are used by agents around the globe today. Many of these rules boil down to trusting instincts.
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Whereas Christians battle a foe that will not collapse or capitulate until the Lord returns, we have been given rules of engagement that we must follow for our own spiritual preservation in, as our foe is the most formidable of them all (see 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 2:10; etc.).
We need to mature to the point of having our powers of discernment trained (cf. Hebrews 5:14). This will give us the kind of instincts we need to be most aware of our enemies tactics (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:11). We should not become paranoid or see problems where they do not exist, but we must not let our guard down either.
God’s Word will protect us and serve us heroically in this terrific battle (cf. Ephesians 6:17), but only if we know how to use it properly.
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).