How God Shapes His People
I once saw a man sculpting a log with an axe. It was both amazing and terrifying at the same time. He skillfully placed each powerful blow of the razor sharp axe, chopping off and leaving precisely what was needed to make the amazing sculpture he desired from a rather plain log. Now read what God said about the Old Testament nations of Ephraim and Judah when they sinned:
“…I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:5-6
Both Old Testament and New Testament imagery uses things like axes, hammers, and swords as means for God shaping, directing, and judging His people. And when we look closer, these tools are often God’s word. God said it clearly through His prophet Hosea, “I have hewn” (cut, carved, shaped) “them by the prophets”.
Change. The axe changes the log – that’s the function of the axe and the purpose of the chopping. Sometimes people are surprised, even put off when they discover that the word of God calls for repentance and change. We sometimes only want to be told we’re fine, can remain the same, and are loved and accepted just the way we are. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and heal the spiritually sick (Lk 5:31-32). He is carving and shaping us into someone new by His word.
Removal. The axe removes from the log what the carver wills not to be in the sculpture. Hebrews 12:1 says, “…let us lay aside ever weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Paul said, “…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Ph 3:13-14). Things will be removed from our lives, our minds, and our actions to make us someone new.
Cut. The axe cuts the log in ways that seem harsh, violent, and (in the beginning) unproductive or even non-sensical. We don’t always immediately understand why God calls us to stop some actions and begin others. It can cause deep sorrow (2 Co 7:8), cause our hearts to be pierced (2 Co 2:37); and bring tears (Lk 22:61-62). God’s discipline shapes us, but it isn’t pleasant (He 12:11) – He is carving us into someone new, and it won’t always feel good at first.
New. The axe cuts aren’t random, destructive, or pointless. Yes, putting the old man to death can be painful, but it is worth it because the new man, the new creation is “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (2 Co 3:18 NIV). God is carving us “…to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Ro 8:29); “…created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ep 4:23-24). What God is carving us to be is someone amazing and suited for heaven! dd