There’s a Bible story about a battle between King David’s army and the army of his son Absalom who had staged a coup. At the peak of the battle, there is a strange verse – “The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest swallowed up more men that day than the sword.” (2 Samuel 18:8). In fact, the forest would claim Absalom too (v9). Yet what is God teaching us? There is a battle going on, and either we are killed by the forest or by the sword. It seems like a terrible choice – yet it isn’t. Most choose the forest, and this is where they die in their sins – “The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;the cords of their sins hold them fast.” (Proverbs 5:22). But some choose the sword, and this is where their sins die, but they live – “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). The sword is Jesus (Revelation 1:16). He wars not against us but against sin. By letting him kill sin in us, we are born to life. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11). We all have a choice – die ensnared by sin or live because Jesus kills sin in us. Open Bible – http://bit.ly/2sa18v8, http://bit.ly/pro5v22, http://bit.ly/heb4v12, http://bit.ly/rev1v16, http://bit.ly/rom6v11
