There is a traveling art exhibit in England of a modern sculpture of an angel, 28 feet high, formed of knife blades. The piece is called “Knife Angel,” and is Britain’s “National Monument Against Violence & Aggression.”
“Knife Angel” by Alfie Bradley and the British Ironworks Centre; Wikipedia CC. 3/2020
Great Britain is a gun-free society, but this does not stop crime. Violence has continued with knives. The problem became so bad that 200 knife banks were placed around the country for anonymous disposal of blades used in crimes. More than 100,000 were collected, sanitized of body fluids (30 percent), blunted and used to create the “Knife Angel.”
The problem of violence in society is not a weapon issue, but a heart issue. As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Actions begin with thoughts inside a person. (Proverbs 23:7)
When Lord Jesus was approached by soldiers and the mob in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciple Peter thought to answer them with his sword. He sliced off the ear of a servant of the temple, Malchus, an enemy. (John 18:10) The Lord healed the ear. He said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:52)
Have you ever thought of taking revenge like Peter did against an enemy? Physically?
The sword of man is limited, at times becomes friendly-fire, and results in further violence. But the Sword of the Spirit, brings life.
The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) And it is indeed sharper than any two-edged sword of man. (Hebrews 4:12)
It is what the Son of Man, Lord Jesus used to defeat satan in the wilderness. The Sword of the Spirit is for our offense and defense.
No gun, blade, nor any other instrument we might use to take matters into our own hands has the strength of the Word of God.
The blade of man carries the blood of victims, just as those used to commit violence in England, but the Sword of the Spirit is covered with the Blood of Lord Jesus, the Blood of God, which cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:7)
For we do not battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12)
As a man thinks, so is he. What is your mind staid upon? The blade of man, or the Sword of the Spirit?
(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon