HIS WORDS
- The Novelist Dario
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
“Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.”[1] Four words became a multitude of life. Not only did the sun, a raging fire of a horde of atoms, come to life, but Yeshua revealed Himself for the first time. Imagine if your words became a being and that being does exactly what you say. It does not operate outside of you and it always does what you intended with your words. It is quite literally your words walking about as a man or woman. What would that being look like for you? How would he or she behave?
Most of us are flippant at the mouth. We say what comes to mind, hardly ever considering whom it may affect and how. We certainly don’t pay attention to how those words reflect on our image. When God said, “Let us create man in our image, according to Our likeness,”[2] it was not a random sentence. It was not simply something to say. He was very meticulous about which words were used, even considering translations of future children who speak different languages.
A psalmist understood this when he wrote, “The words of the Lord are pure words/Like silver tried in a furnace of earth/Purified seven times/You shall keep them, O Lord/You shall preserve them from this generation forever.”[3] God was, is, and will forever be very diligent with each word He speaks, as well as with the words His prophets, poets, writers, and priests speak.
Having such scrupulous phrasing, it is strange that we are not aiming to be like God with each other. If someone greater than us is careful with His words to someone we deem lesser, why are we so readily able and willing to say horrid things? Why do derogatory words get so much use in our societies? When did we lose our way?
God’s word became flesh, walked among human beings to experience their pain, frustration, joy, worry, fear, pressure, happiness, elation, confusion, and etc. He treated women with respect. He taught teachers. He healed the disabled and encouraged everyone He could. He even brought back the dead to life, and commanded the weather. God’s word even rejected the temptations of the devil. Having experienced all these things, He, in connection to Himself, allowed Himself to be crucified for our sins. Think about how God’s words lived. Would our words live a life we’d be proud of?
I have a feeling, if you’re anything like me, your words would certainly not serve society well. It would expose our fears, our acceptance of putrid mentalities, and ultimately embarrass us. Not the words we share in public, but the ones we speak when no one is listening. Not just the words we say to ourselves, but the words we text on our phones and on social media. Those words would disrespect our name and shame us. They would live a life worthy of jail, or worse, death.
How many times did we say we wanted to hurt someone? How many times did we say something judgmental? How many times did we curse? Think about it! How many crass jokes did we make? How many jabs did we take? How many times did we call someone outside their name because they were not in earshot? Imagine all those words bearing your face and walking amongst the people. Are we safe from you? Are you safe from me?
Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing, but it only becomes mesmerizing when we watch what we say, even to ourselves. We cannot continue to be ugly whether in public or private. We cannot continue to make excuses. We have to own up to our words and not just the ones we are willing to part with.
Right now, in America, we are witnessing firsthand how ugly words can be, as we struggle with a president who does not make a great habit of quieting the rude, malicious, and abhorrent words. At times, it almost feels like he relishes in them. This behavior has influenced responses akin to the originating offense, as those who oppose him attempt to say even worse things about him. Have you read the charged phrasing so many of these abysmal media companies use?
It amazes how we all are ready to believe, “For God so loved the world…”[4] but refuse to believe, “…there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”[5] We gravitate toward positivity to lift ourselves up even when our words hurl us toward eternal wrath.
Have we forgotten? The same God who said “Peace, be still,”[6] is the same God who declares, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”[7] I am not God. I cannot see what you do in private. God can see. That should check you.
Our words are not muffled in His ears, and they hold just as much weight as our actions. Remember, Solomon did say, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”[8] Again, would your words bring life to the world, or would they come to the world to destroy it?
As much as I want to believe I am safe, I can be honest and admit I had to learn a lot about my words in private spaces. I am uncouth, at times, amidst company as well. Even as I am now, compared to my youth, my words are still far from being like Christ. Though, I am getting there.
One of the verses that helps me remember my words is found in Matthew. “You will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there,’ and it will move.”[9] Imagine that kind of power. Imagine that kind of faith! To think the Lord would be willing to move a mountain for you, and you are hung up on what someone said to you when you were a child! How dare we let that get in the way!
At some point, we have to acknowledge we came from God, whose words created stars bigger than planets bigger than oceans bigger than continents, bigger than us, bigger than insects, bigger than microorganism, bigger than molecules. We came from eternity, who give us time to understand. We came from creation amidst destruction.
Let us not be found disrespecting God with our spoken beliefs. Watch your mouth! Let us not be found saying, “Praise God,” whilst spewing ideologies He abhors. We cannot continue praying for pressing matters while promising to commit sin. We cannot say we love God while praising disobedience, foolishness, adultery, homosexuality, violence, judgmentalism, transgenderism, abandonment, pride, drama, trauma, piety, fickleness, and evil. We have to stop singing gospel songs with the choir on Sundays and singing club music… also on Sundays.
If you know the lyrics, “Girl, you look good when you back that (thang) up,” you should also know what should not be sung. Thinking it’s not that serious is how many people will be shocked when God declares, “Depart from Me…workers of lawlessness.”[10] While I can’t speak for how God will judge us, do you really think that’s a risk worth taking on eternity?
What songs would your words sing to the world? Would your words go around lifting people up, or criticizing them? Would your words live a life you would be proud of? Would your words live a life God would call family?
Remember what Jesus Christ did. Remember how He treated those He came into contact with. Would you be chased from the temple with whips, or would you be granted access to paradise? Think for a moment on all the words spoken in anger, confusion, sorrow, pain, and spite. Think of those club bangers, those sex songs, and those songs promoting violence. Did you sing along? Would these actions improve God’s opinion of you? Be honest.
These are the questions I ask myself on occasion. Would my words live as Jesus, or would they be as Barabbas? Would I be exalted to the destruction of God, or would God invite me to paradise?
Tough questions, I know, but questions that must be asked. How flippant are we with our words? Answer the tough question. If you are found lacking, change. If you get worried, clean it up. If your beliefs are not in alignment with God, get aligned. Better to do it now than find out you should’ve did it, but it’s too late.
May the next set of words from your lips be ones that would glorify God and better your image. Let your words live a life worthy of God. Speak life and not death. Voice the saint and not the monster. Uplift with your words, and do not destroy.
The word of the Lord has already spoken. He has already given life at the cost of His own. He has given men the words to live by. Let your words be found choosing paradise.
I know it’s fun to sing those songs on the dance floor. I know it’s relieving to mouth off when no one is listening. I know it feeds the ego when you outwit someone or gut-punch them with words. However, it is beyond time for all of us to stop. Let us choose to relent the next time our minds feed us filth rather than faith. Let us choose to be like Christ, even with our words. Your words are you, spoken. Speak godliness.
Blessings
The Novelist Dario
P.S.: The inspiration behind this post comes from Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church. Here is the link to the sermon: https://youtu.be/KOgKql0UEpI?si=r-301fjYeRnys9Mg