Grandpa was a farmer by trade. Being a rural farmer in the early 1920's he had to be self-sufficient. That is, he had to know how to use many tools. Not only know how to use them, but fix them when they broke or would not function as they should.
One of his most prized tools was a paintbrush. He had used it to paint the outside of the house. He painted the inside of the house. All of his out buildings, the chicken coop, the smoke house, the barn and even a few coats of paint on the outhouse. He took extra care in his paintbrush, as he only had the one.
He explained to me, when you have a tool, you must know all its parts. For instance, a paintbrush is made of many parts. The Handle. Every brush has one. The Ferrule, that part of the brush that holds the bristles to the handle. The Bristles, the part of the brush you paint with. The Toe, the very end of the brush. The Belly, the middle of the bristles. The Heel, where the bristles go into the ferrule at the end the handle.
He explained the most important part was the Ferrule. He said most folks never see it for the rest of the brush. It is the part used to strengthen the tool handle for joining and binding the bristles to the handle.
He said its kinda like your Grandma's Bible. The binding on the back holds the Bible's pages together. On the pages are the words written to bind us together in the applying of God's Law and Love.
Psalm 3 says, “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”
He said, "Today I am saddened as the ferrule has become uncrimped. It no longer binds. It is the same with the Bible. The world has misplaced and forgotten it's binding words. Not only those words that bind us to the Love of Christ, but also to our fellow man. Some Churches seems void and unbound, lacking a sense of responsibility. The handle and bristles are disconnected. They function, but are being idle in their endeavor to worship God and to glorify Him on earth. They offer programs to entertain, but not to develop each individual Christian to attain the full stature of Christ."
Psalm 119:126 says, "It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.”
Ezekiel 22:25 says, "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them."
Romans 13:13 says, "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Let us not violate anything sacred; Let us not treat with abuse, or contempt any person. Let us not profane the name of God or the Scriptures."
2 Corinthians 13:11 says, "Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Ecclesiastes 3:20 says, "...all are equal, coming from the dust and returning to the dust."
1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good."
Grandpa picked up his paint brush. With a pressing tool he fastened and secured the ferrule. He remarked, "My ferrule is secure in Jesus, the Christ. My ferrule is tight upon the paintbrush. My brush paints. Does yours?"