The Word Is Alive

For the last two weeks our pastor has spent part of his Sunday morning message talking about the power of the Word of God to transform lives. He has his story of how he set out to prove to his brother that the Bible was nonsense, and so he picked it up and begin to read it. Just a few chapters of reading the Gospel of John and his heart was pierced through with the truth of who Jesus Christ was. Though he had spent all of his life up until that point living for himself and not caring, suddenly his eyes were opened by the words that he read. He was consumed by the thought that he was a sinner in great need of a Savior --the only Savior, Jesus Christ!

I have experienced the power of the Word in my own life. October 7th, 1985 was one of those never-to-be-forgotten experiences. It was on that day 23 years ago that the Living Word pierced through my darkness to show me that Jesus was the Light of the World. My self-righteous shell was no match for the Word that sliced to my heart like a knife, exposing my sin and making me see that I needed the Lord...His mercy and forgiveness and His grace at work in my life!

There have been times over the years that I felt so burdened from a million little trivial stresses that cloud the day. Sometimes there are BIG stresses, and sometimes it is just a tired, idle mind that gets loose and wanders off to ponder irrational things that COULD happen. At times the weight almost feels physical. It drives me to the Word, though, and there I always find peace and rest. Sometimes I am met with rebuke for a bad attitude or a lack of love, or anger toward my children. But in the end there is always balm for the necessary surgery, and I can truly feel my heart at ease, resting in Christ, and in His loving care for me.

Playing in the background of my mind (as I've thought about the power of the Word of God) is Casting Crown's song called "The Word is Alive" from their most recent album "The Altar and the Door". I love the words...

The Word Is Alive

Looking out from His throne, the Father of light and of men
Chose to make himself known and show us the way back to Him
Speaking wisdom and truth into the hearts of peasants and kings
He began to unveil the Word that would change the course of all things
With eyes wide open, all would see
The Word is alive
And it cuts like a sword through the darkness
With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid
Breathing life into all who believe
The Word is alive
And the world and its glories wil fade
But His truth it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same
The Word is alive

Simple strokes on a page
Eternity's secrets revealed
Carried on from age to age
It speaks Truth to us even still
And as the rain falls from Heaven
Feeds the earth before it returns
Lord, let Your Word fall on us and
Bring forth the fruit You deserve

With eyes wide open
Let us see
The Word is alive
His Word is alive