A recent devotional from Our Daily Bread has given me the inspiration for today’s blog. When knife crime rose in the United Kingdom, the British Ironwork Centre came up with an idea. Working with the police, they built 200 deposit boxes and placed them around the country. 100,000 knives were anonymously surrendered, some with bloodstains still on their blades. These were shipped to Alfie Bradley, a sculpture and artist, who welded them together to create the Knife Angel, a 27-foot high sculpture with shimmering steel wings. Over 80 families affected by knife violence had their personal messages engraved on the blades that form the feathers of the angel wings.
The Knife Angel gives us a glimpse of God’s promised future that is found in Isaiah 2:4.
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
Swords become plowshares. Weapons become artwork. Crime is no more because all means of hatred have been reshaped and given creative purposes. We look forward to that new world, but we are to pray and serve until its arrival. If we as a nation will turn from our wicked ways of sin and put down our weapons of hate and violence and seek God, He promises restoration and healing. He is our only hope.
Our Only Hope If My own people Who are called by My name Will humble themselves And will pray and proclaim, Seek My face and turn Away from wicked ways, I’ll hear in heaven Their petitions and praise. I’ll forgive their sin, And I will heal their land. My eyes will open. My ears will understand. Now our only hope Will be our humble prayer, “God, heal our nation. Show us our cross to bear. “Grant us forgiveness, Give us healing and peace, Love for our neighbors, And that all hate will cease.” Hope, our only hope, Is in God’s word alone. Help us to trust You And let Your love be known. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15