Redeeming the borrowed life
But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed. 2 Kings 6:5
How do you see our lives in terms of "borrowing"? Borrow means to receive something on loan with the intent of returning it to its rightful owner. Imagine that everything we have, including our time, is borrowed from God, that our lives are on loan for God's purpose. This concept of everything belonging to God is found throughout the Bible. “You are not your own. You were bought at a price.” 1 Cor. 6:19-20, “It is no longer I live, but Christ live with me” Gal 2:20. By living with the "borrow" concept, we are aware that this life isn't really ours, but God's, as He is lending us our lives and everything to complete His divine mission.
For our life is borrowed, and today's key verse uses one of Elisha's borrowed axe miracles to illustrate God's redemption. It was a miracle in which people were cutting down wood, but an axe head fell into the water, the person cried, and said, “the axe was borrowed ”. The man showed Elisha where the axe head fell, and Elisha cut down a piece of wood and cast it in the water. The iron axe head floated, so the man picked it up.
By recovering the lost axe head, the person was saved from trouble. When we borrow tools, it is our responsibility to care for them, and if we break or lose them, we need to repair them or repay the borrowed tool. Elisha performed this miracle as a way of redeeming the man. Probably the axe iron was expensive, so Elisha possibly saved him from a costly debt debt.
Furthermore, when the borrowed axe lost its head, the man was unable to use it as it was intended for cutting trees. As the man couldn't cut the tree with the handle, the axe head symbolizes God's power. This is a reflection of our borrowed life, just toiling and ineffective without the axe head (the power of God). Therefore, the remedy is to go back to the place where we lost and let the piece of wood that represents the cross recover and raise the lost axe head, which is like the resurrection power that enables us to regain our dream and power, so that we may recover from the loss with God's power and anointing to carry on God's work.
With God's grace and mercy, let us continue this divine mission with His power and anointing, for He has fully redeemed our "borrowed life".
Blessing prayer: We submit to your lordship over us, and we pray that your resurrection power will be upon us so we can recover from lost hope and dreams. In Jesus' name, Amen
