HIM WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO

Our God is great. He is almighty, eternal and holy, the creator and sustainer of the universe. He is working out His eternal purposes and yet He has an interest in us. Awesome thought! He knows the number of hairs on our head. He is concerned about us! And we have to do with Him, as do all men, for all will one day stand before the Son of God, either as Saviour or Judge. Our title literally reads, ‘Him to whom we must give account’. Humbling thought! We must give account! ‘Every one of us shall give account of himself to God’, Rom. 14.12.

Verse 13 introduces us to the living God. Nothing is hidden from Him. We are totally exposed, and should therefore be marked by sincerity of motive and humility in service for the Master. Hypocrisy and pride can have no place in our lives if we appreciate that we are totally exposed to Him.

Verse 12 introduces us to the living word. It bears the character of God. It is alive and powerful. This book is the means by which the Eternal God communicates His thoughts to us today. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the One who makes good the word of God to our hearts. The Saviour promised, ‘he shall teach you all things’, John 14. 26. It is sharper than any two-edged sword. We are to use it in our spiritual warfare. It is, ‘the sword of the Spirit’, Eph. 6. 17. But before we can use it in spiritual warfare, we must apply this powerful word to ourselves. We cannot prayerfully read it without it affecting us. It is double edged. It is more effective than any sword we can imagine. There is no other sword like it! It divides between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, between natural and spiritual, between activity and inner well-being. It discerns thoughts and intents.

Are we then to live our lives in fear of God’s word and dread the prospect of giving account at the judgement seat? Not at all!

We should read the word, praying that the Holy Spirit will teach and guide us. Reading the word leads to an effective prayer life, which results in a Christ-like character, the fruit of the Spirit. The prospect of giving account will then be one of joy. For, ‘then shall every man have praise of God’, 1 Cor. 4. 5.