The Cutting Edge by Julie Romero

2 Kings 6: 1-7: An Ax Head Floats
The company of the prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live."
And he said, "Go."
Then one of them said, "Won't you please come with your servants?"
"I will," Elisha replied. And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. "Oh, my lord," he cried out, "it was borrowed!"
The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. "Lift it out," he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.


Have you ever been in a place spiritually where you feel completely distant from God? I’ve been there. When I finally wake up and realize that I need to return to God, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. It’s times like times that I ask myself, “Where did I lose my cutting edge?”

Elisha, a major prophet in the Old Testament, and a band of prophets get together to build a bigger meeting place. One thing to remember about prophets is that they weren’t very popular. They usually brought messages of doom and destruction unless people repented. So the fact that one of the prophets had a friend he borrowed an axe from is a pretty big deal. Prophets probably didn’t make a lot of money, either, so borrowing an axe would have been essential.

One particular prophet was chopping away at some wood when his axe head fell off and dropped into the Jordan River. I’m imagining that on the backwards swing, the axe head kept on flying backwards and landed in the river. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure iron doesn’t float. This prophet freaks out and the only thing he can think of is that it was borrowed. Maybe he was thinking he was about to lose his one and only friend!

Remember
Then Elisha comes along and asks, “Where did it fall?” This is where our story comes in. When you feel distant from God, the question you need to ask yourself is “Where did I lose my cutting edge?” Go back to the place where you remember being the closest with God. What happened right after that? That’s where you lost your cutting edge.

Repent
After Elisha cut a stick, threw it at the place where it had fallen, the axe head floated to the top of the river. After pointing to where you lost your cutting edge, it’s important to repent of it to God. Confess that you sinned. Do a 180 and go the opposite direction of where you were heading. Turn back to God. God will restore you to Himself. He will make the axe head float.

Repeat
Elisha then said, “Lift it out,” and the man reached in and lifted it out. When you confess your sin to God, you must once again use your cutting edge. Don’t just watch it float, or leave it in pieces on the riverside. Use it. Start doing the things you were doing when you were close with God the first time.

Today, as you evaluate your relationship with God, ask Him to show you if and where you’ve lost your cutting edge. Repent of that sin and start using your cutting edge again to glorify God.