Aligned.

Inspired by Hebrews 4:12

A year and a half ago, I made the trek out to the North Cascades National Park while I was living in Lynnwood, Washington. I had heard that the North Cascades was one of the most beautiful national parks, and I had a few hikes planned for the day. Just as I got into the park entrance and was driving right beneath a cliff, some rockfall fell onto the road and it was too late for me to dodge them (the photo above is right next to where this happened - beautiful, huh?). I heard the “thunk” as they tore right through the underside of the car. I pulled to the side when I heard the loud “whoosh” as one of the tires let out all of its air. Thankfully, a Washington state trooper who was in the park on a personal trip saw what happened and kindly helped me change out the tire. Well actually, he had his 8 year old nephew change the tire on my car (way to show me up, kid… although I am thankful for it). After that, I set off on the long trek back to civilization to find somewhere to fix the car. Cell phone service was definitely nonexistent on this trip.

I had to go 90 miles to get to the closest auto repair shop, and it took me just over 6 hours. Any time I went faster than 15 miles per hour, the car would try to steer itself off of the road, so slow and steady was the trick. I knew it wasn’t just the tire that was bad, and I was proven correct when I got to the repair shop – the entire alignment of the car was well off and the front axle was all bent up. I am thankful that I was even able to get to the shop with how the car looked, but because I was lacking any cell service there wasn't really an option of getting a tow. I left my car overnight and thankfully I wasn’t stranded there, but I was able to navigate back to Lynnwood using my bus pass and many miles on foot in the pouring rain (who knew that the greater Seattle area would have the biggest downpour in years at the exact time I had miles to walk back home?). Talk about adulting and figuring it out, huh?

I don’t tell this story because it’s a fun story – it’s really not. I tell it because I never really thought about how important it is to have good alignment on the four car wheels until after the alignment was completely off.

Bear with me, because I’m going to try to make a connection here… we’ll see if it works.

This morning I was reading Hebrews 4, and I could not help but be stopped in my tracks at Hebrews 4:12. It is one of those verses I have read a zillion times, but I never really stopped to truly embrace and meditate on what it says as much as it deserves.

Hebrews 4:12

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.

First of all, I hope and pray that I am never done studying this verse. I have a LOT to say about it, but I will only cover a piece of it because there is just SO MUCH MORE to say.

What immediately stood out to me was the portion about dividing soul and spirit. I always thought of these two words as the same, but the thought occurred to me today that if they truly are the same then how could you divide them? That’s where the big concordance comes in handy. Soul comes from the word “psyche” (G5590), which is the life, heart, and mind of a person. Spirit comes from the word “pneuma” (G4151), which is the mind, spirit, and heart of a person that is able to respond to God, also known as the Holy Spirit. So yes, these two terms are very different. Psyche seems to be moreso the natural character of a human being, whereas pneuma seems to be the Spirit of God that is gifted to (See Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:36-38, Acts 5:32) and dwells within those who believe.

I look at my life and, even though I am able to stand here today transformed and reborn as God’s child, I am not perfect. I have been adopted into His kingdom and strive to be obedient to Him and His commands, yet I struggle with my sin nature. Even though I have God’s own spirit living within me, I strive to live with a mindset of putting my flesh to death daily. Just like my car being out of alignment, my soul is not always aligned with God’s Holy Spirit living within me. It seems like a conflict between the two at times. It is frustrating. But it does also reinforce my need for a Savior, Jesus Christ, who was crucified and put to death on the cross, only to be resurrected and claim victory over sin and death three days later.

God does not promise we will be perfected here on earth. In fact, Jesus Himself instructs us to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily to follow Him (Luke 9:23). Daily. At the moment we believe, we are justified through faith by His blood (Romans 5:9, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Philippians 3:8-9), but that does not mean that we are sanctified immediately. Sanctification is an ongoing process, spanning a lifetime, of becoming more and more like Him.

I crave a life where my soul is constantly in alignment with the Spirit. I deeply desire a perfect harmony of psyche with pneuma. I don’t want to be pulled in multiple directions, but I crave the ability to remain constantly in step with the Spirit. That is what makes the living and active Word of God so incredible. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word has the ability to penetrate and divide the soul from the Spirit. It has the ability to cut so deep that it can differentiate the true intentions of the heart. That is why digging into the word is just so important. The Word of God is not meant to be skimmed over and “checked off” for the day, but it is meant to be dug into, torn apart, dwelled in, and chewed on. It is meant to be approached intentionally and taken seriously. The word is meant to both convict and encourage. Don’t skim over it – it’s my loss every single time if I do, because the Word is LIVING and ACTIVE. It does a work within the soul to tweak the alignment and help us become more in step with the Spirit. God does BIG things through consistent, daily, intentional, study of His word.

My God, I pray that your Word can be forever transforming my soul to more closely align with your Spirit dwelling within me. I pray that you convict me of the areas of my life that do not align with your Spirit and that you can take your tools out and start tweaking these areas to bring them more into alignment. I pray that you do not allow me to fall into the mindset of checking off my daily reading, but instead inspire me to sit in the scripture for as long as I need, whether it be a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days, so that I can see what you are trying to teach me. I pray that you reveal any intentions within my heart that are not pure and rooted in a desire to glorify you. My God, provide your perfect alignment in your Word.

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Scripture References:

Hebrews 4:12

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.

Matthew 3:11

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Acts 2:36-38

“Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 5:32

“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Luke 9:23

Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

Romans 5:9

Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him?

1 Corinthians 6:11

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Philippians 3:8-9

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.