Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

What does it mean to be active? As a human of a certain age I understand that I am not as active as I was when I was younger. I played baseball at one time, but not any longer. Active takes on different meanings dependent on age and physical health. The blind are active but have to restrict their activities based on an understanding that the sighted don’t get.

We all have limits but does the Word of God suffer limitations?

Let us look at those possible limitations.

What is the Word of God?

John 1:1-5 English Standard Version

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Is there any more powerful definition for the Word? The Word is God and as such is powerful enough to create all that exists. Going beyond the boundaries of Spirit He became flesh with purpose.

To understand the Power of the Word when He is being active we must understand His purpose. We cannot separate the Word into bits and pieces to fit our understanding.The Word itself reveals what we need for our well being.

Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

We are His betrothed and we are being prepared for Him. As with all good relationships it is a matter of communication and cooperation. How can we listen to Him without faith?

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

Hebrews 10:26

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Do we know the truth?

Psalm 119:89
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Psalm 119:160
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

In my past others have used Hebrews 10:26 as justification for losing our salvation. What Psalm 119:160 says is that the sum of His Word is truth. We cannot stand on one line of scripture and pronounce judgment on ourselves or others.

Isaiah 44:25
who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish,

1 John 1:10
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

God is in control. He is not limited by our understanding and yet somehow we take on this great responsibility of believing that anything less than perfect understanding is failing God.

It is a lie. We are not in control of our destiny nor can we alter the truth.

The only thing within our control is trust. Trust is based on two things.

First it is based on our understanding which we now know is not perfect.

Secondly it is based on experience with the foundation of trust, faith in God, His promises, and our obedience of faith produce results that may lead us to trust God from that firm foundation or discover that we cannot trust our understanding because we make mistakes.

Key in that passage in Hebrews 10:26 is the word intentional. Choose to sin intentionally and that produces in us the fruit of unfaithfulness. God does not become a liar, we do.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.