The Antiseptic

 

“For the word of God is living 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

Having lived with a diabetic husband with numerous foot wounds over the years, I know something about how a sharp scalpel can cut keenly, and how a good surgeon can separate bad skin from good. God’s written Word does this for us and enables us to separate even thoughts and intents that displease Him.

In an ordinary wound, just the antiseptic alone begins the process of exposing the germs and cleansing the skin. All of this brings great pain to the healthy foot and has a way of warning against doing anything that would require such pain again.

Now often, we think we can stick our fingers in our ears and sing “La La La! I can’t hear you!” to deafen ourselves to the relentless voice of the Holy Spirit when He uses the Word of God to reveal our sin. By doing this, we can avoid the pain for a little while.

However, without the stinging anguish of the antiseptic and the cutting of the surgeon’s scalpel, the wound will not heal. The infection will rage and spread in the body. We will experience the greater pain of loss of limb, or life itself. So it is in our spiritual lives where God’s Word is the antiseptic and the Holy Spirit is the compassionate surgeon.

King David knew how it felt to have an aching wound of sin and a need for the deep cleansing that only God could give. After fighting the pain for a season, on hearing God’s Word through a godly man, the Prophet Nathan, David spoke these words, recorded in various verses of Psalm 51:

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin… Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow… Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Sometimes, God requires us to take drastic action against a sin. Sometimes, long-standing sin, which has caused an infection deep within us, needs a radical remedy. God requires an application of the stinging antiseptic and the agony of the surgical cutting, in order to set us free of the disease of sin.

As we come face to face with our loving Savior each day—during our quiet time with Him—let’s allow His Word to do its work in our hearts. And, let’s listen to what He would have us do to open and cleanse us so that we can be healed. Praise be to God that He has given us His mercy through Jesus Christ!