When I was young, and for a few years, comic books were a mainstay. Pictures and words would tell the story. They all seemed to be similar. Good vs Evil, for the most part, and how do you tell the difference and choose your side. Superman always fought villains, as did Batman and whoever else was on the shelves. Seldom did evil win, but they did sometimes get the upper hand.
This was my morning thought as I thought about the Power of Words. The same kind of words is used on both sides of the fence of Good and Evil. The contrast is true everywhere. Entrepreneurs as opposed to simple wage earners. Those who vaccinate and those who are against. Married with kids, and those equally hitched but never want kids. Yes, even those who are Mac aficionados and those of us who ain’t.
We use words from different viewpoints of position. The same words often have the same meaning, but the nuances sleight them from one view to the other. You know, “Go, right. No. Not your right. My right. Go, Left.” Someone is always interpreting from their perspective.
The Bible is full of this problem, but it’s probably nothing that cannot be handled if we only kept the language in a state of never changing. Oh, and had a better understanding of the original language.
Hundreds/Thousands of Years Apart
The Bible itself comes from ancient times and covers thousands of years. During that time everything changed. Constantly! But God didn’t. Scripture tells us He never changes. (Malachi 3:6) Of course, he was referring to whether he should choose at this time to punish the wicked. The concept is established. We believe in an unchanging God in a world that is constantly shifting.
Through the times between Adam and Eve, and the scripture above, the Bible covers a period of thousands of years. From the Gospels to the last epistle (Jude), perhaps 100 years. Throw Revelations into the mix, then it might be the New Testament will equally cover similar grounds of time.
Think about the change we’ve experienced in our lifetime!
Still. God has not changed. His Word is still established as the Voice of God through the ages of our lives. And beyond.
The Power of The Tongue
Solomon wrote a premise that gives foundation to my thought about the power of words, and how we choose to use them:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
(Proverbs 18:21 KJV)
If you love the power of words, you will love the fruit you create from them. Death, and life. Speak either into fruition and eat of the results you created.
In the New Testament, James writes a similar message, albeit it a little lengthier and with more bite. Read the entire chapter (18 verses) and you will find this nugget at the center.
But the tongue can no man tame;
it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father;
and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(James 3:8-10 KJV)
Through his writing, James compares big and small (rudder, horses bit), sweet water, and bitter from the same fountain. The power of the little over the bigger, and the improbability of sweet and bitter flowing from the same source. This cannot be! If so, why do we accept the premise that we could do something unnatural with our words?
Here’s a Thought: Read the entire chapter and arrive at your own conclusion. Mine? The tongue is a powerful weapon! For Good and Evil.
Choose Your Path
Maybe, perhaps, the power of choosing which way our words will lead us is the key. Then, the path they lead us is critical to our success. Which path will you choose? Death? Life? Riches? Health? Family? It’s an almost endless list.
During the next little while, I am going to share with you some powerful words I’ve chosen to live by. As I write and share, perhaps you will join me in the pursuit of Good Words…they can lead to a better end.