I once held a mighty sword: it was an heirloom of my family for countless generations. From father to son, it was passed down to all the children of men from Adam himself. This sword was more than just a blade of steel: for it contained all the delegated power of mankind. Adam received it from God himself, on the day he was first made. God, the High King of creation decreed that the earth was to be ruled by Adam, as a regent for God himself; and with this authority, God gave Adam the power to subdue this earth and to rule over all that God had made. A brighter sword was never given, nor a mightier weapon bestowed upon any created being. Satan himself lusted after this sword, and raged at the election of God that chose man for such an honor. But the purpose of God was not to be confounded, and his decree stood, for it was backed by the omnipotence of God himself. So, Adam retained his mighty sword of power with which to rule all creation. Adam had many sons and daughters, and they as well: and to each of these descendants the sword was passed, so that the power to rule over creation became a birthright of the sons of men.
Many years, and many generations later, I myself received this sword, on the day of my birth. I was not alone, for all others of my race received it as well; yet my sword was very dear to me, for it was my very own portion of the power of Adam. This sword was never the same. At first it seemed but a small, pitiful thing, barely large enough to be seen, and barely sharp enough to be called a blade. Nor was I very skillful in its use. Sometimes, when I was all alone, I would bring it out, and fight shadows of my imagination, dreaming of the days when I would be a mighty warrior, exercising the power of my race in creation. But in time, the sword grew in stature, and its sharpness grew more acute. I too began to wield it with greater ability: it seemed that the sword grew as my power to use it grew. I began to use it more and more, fulfilling my Adamic birthright, and exercising power on the earth.
As time went on, my sword became mighty indeed. I kept it mostly in its sheath, lest I provoke the envy of others, but even sheathed, all could see that my sword was mighty indeed, and that I possessed the power of our race in great measure. I used my sword more and more, and with great effect. There was no enemy I feared, for the power of Adam was great in me. I set myself to the task to which I was born, and began to use my sword to shape this world as it ought to be shaped. Where there was wrong, I wielded my sword to bring right. Where there was injustice, I wielded my sword to bring justice. Where there was oppression, I wielded my sword to bring freedom. I exulted in my strength, and set my heart to fulfill the mandate of Adam: to order creation as God would have it. Mighty did I walk on this earth, and mighty was my sword! Mightily did I strive in my divinely appointed task!
Yet all was not as I expected, for my blade was tarnished. Strive as I would, I never accomplished what I set my heart to do. For every foe I laid waste, ten more would rise up. I would fight with great power against the evil of Satan in this world, but no dent could I make in his rule. Yea, after fighting sore against the foe, to fulfill the mandate of my God, I would find my own self to be wounded, and my own sword to be the offender. The more I fought, the less I accomplished, and the more wounded I became in spirit. I look at my blade: it was still as mighty as ever, but not so bright, for a tarnished spot had appeared. It was small at first, but I perceived that it began to grow still more. I would clean and polish my blade, but no lasting difference could be affected: for the spot belied all attempts at elimination. I ignored it at first as a small matter, but it grew more prominent every day, spreading until the whole length of the blade was covered. It did not seem to effect its effectiveness, but the pattern continued: the blade grew more tarnished and the battles more fruitless.
At the time, it appeared that this was some new deficiency, one that had not been there before when the blade seemed bright. I did not recall noticing it in my youth, but as I looked back with the perfection of hindsight, I recalled that there had always been some spot there. Low, I remembered the stories passed down to me of the day when the blade was first tarnished, long before I walked the earth. For in Eden, long ago, the sword first got its stain. The sword was given as a sacred trust, to be used in the name of Jehovah himself; but Adam, having only newly acquired it, used it at the behest of Satan against the Most High himself. God did not break his word for this offense, or take away the sword from Adam, but from that day, the sword was never free from its spot. The spot came not from the sword, but from the bearer. As Adam, and all his descendants were cursed, so their curse passed upon their sacred sword, infecting it and blemishing its beauty. They still had their charge: to have dominion over all the earth, but their power to accomplish it was diminished, and man in time gave it over to the realm of Satan. I perceived this and wept, for my sword could never be made whole so long as I bore it: for I was the cause of its blemish.
I tried to wash this sword, yea, I washed it even in the blood of the Lamb, seeking to sanctify it by the washing of water by the word. Yet to my great surprise, this had no effect. Though I was redeemed, and joined to Jesus Christ in salvation, and though I bore my sword for God’s glory, it could not be free from its tarnish, nor could its original power be restored. I wept exceedingly, for my once proud blade now seemed so miserable a tool, and so unbefitting a man purified by the blood of Christ. Yet how could it be so, for the dominion mandate of our God yet remains? How could I surrender my sword when there was so much yet to be accomplished with it? I sat in my perplexity, seeking the answer to this riddle.
But one day I found the answer to all my questions, and I found it in the most glorious places: in Jesus Christ himself. What a complex person is Christ, with all the virtues and excellencies of God and man perfectly joined. How many aspects of Christ are there to be considered! Yet when I saw him with the eyes of Spirit, I saw him in his kingship, high and exalted. Yet on his head I saw a crown, a very peculiar crown, for it was one that I had not noticed before. It was the crown of David, the crown of Noah, the crown of Adam. Christ in the anointed one, the King. Yet this is not a kingship based on his divinity, for he had this from before the foundation of the world. The anointing of Christ was to the kingship of Adam, the mediatorial Kingdom of God on earth. In the beginning, God decreed that it was to be man who acts as his regent on earth, and so it must be. Yet if it must be a man who sits upon the throne of this world, it shall be no other than the Man Christ Jesus. He has fulfilled the dominion mandate. He will rule all creation. He will subdue the earth, destroy Satan’s dominion, and conform all creation to the perfect will of God. He is the Second Adam, the one to fulfill Adam’s role, yet perfectly and without sin.
When I perceived this, I understood what I must do. Christ has claimed the dominion of Adam: and though the world holds out against this claim, maintaining their power still, I will no longer do so. When I saw him as he is, I removed the sword of my Adamic power from its sheath, and gave it into the hands of my Christ. The sword was too tarnished, the power to unwieldy for me: so, I yield it to my Master, trusting him to fulfill the mandate I never could. Adam gave me this sword, the symbol of earthly power, and charged me to fulfill his task. Yet a greater than Adam has come, and in him is all the might of humanity and divinity. I gave him my old sword, and vowed never to wield it again. In return, he gave me a new task: to rule and reign with him as his bride, to represent him to the powers of earth as his ambassador, to shepherd his flock as his under-shepherd, and to fight the powers of darkness as his soldier. But what blessed duties, for all of them are done in him, my Captain and the new Federal Head of our Race.
In place of my Adamic sword, he has given me his own sword, even his word. And what a mighty sword it is, for the word found in scriptures agrees with the word spoken by his Spirit to my heart, and all the power of Christ is in them. I speak his words in prayer, and mountains move. I claim his promises, and all creation is mine. I rebuke the powers of Hell with the words of Christ, and Satan shudders. I proclaim his gospel, and kingdoms of darkness shudder! Christ himself is in his words, and in Christ I have all the power of omnipotence, and all the authority of the Divine-Mediatorial King. I gave my old sword to Christ, and never looked back; for his omnipotence needs not my fleshy power to help. But I still keep the sheath: the fleshly body in which I once held the Sword of Adam: the power of human will. It is forever a reminder to me of the true power that is in Christ. Its emptiness reminds me to come to him for filling, and to rely on him when my tasks seem too great. What a blessed irony is this; that my empty sheath might have more power and beauty than I ever found in the sword which it held: for the empty sheath causes me to see the Kinship of my Christ more clearly, and to trust in his power more faithfully. Oh, blessed weakness of flesh that causes me to fly to my Redeemer! May God help me to so glory in weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10)
