The Anvil Of Scripture

One of the books I am currently reading is an excellent work about being a pastor. As I was soaking up the wisdom from Albert Martin, a man who’s served as a pastor for around 50 years, I read these words:

“Regarding this issue, we must have our thinking hammered out on the anvil of Scripture.”

I read that sentence several times, not because of the particular issue Martin was discussing, but because they state a truth that is pretty much applicable for virtually every issue of the Christian life. Our thinking must be shaped by the instruction of God through the words of the Bible, and not in some other way or through some other standard.

The picture I found online of a blacksmith at work illustrates Martin’s point. The anvil represents God’s word, the solid and unchanging standard, that God, the Master Blacksmith, uses to shape us for His purposes and His glory. Sometimes that shaping is effortless, but many are the times when heat and hammering are the only ways to bring about the desired result.

Sometimes our thinking changes easily. I can think back to my own conversion and see things that changed nearly effortlessly. And I can also look back and see things that have changed only under great effort, with lots of resistance on my part. And given that the Christian life is one of continual growth and change, from the moment of conversion until that time our Savior calls us home, there is change going on right now that must happen in agreement with God’s word in order for it to be pleasing to Him.

The idea of being hammered on an anvil doesn’t sound very much like fun. But it is an act of love by God to do so. He loves us and does what is needed to conform us to the truth of His word, rather than let us go off adrift in some other direction.

It’s good for us to regularly read our Bibles and give serious, prayerful thought to what God is speaking to us through it. There will be times when His truth will confront us. Those are the times we need to dig deeper and be shaped by the truth of the anvil of Scripture, to our good and for God’s glory.