God's Word is Truth

& I Will be True

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_God must be the God of my words and those words must minister grace to the hearer. In the
beginning was the word... Such was the description by John of the dawn of life. A word is an idea expressed. The power of speech is indeed a gift from God. Jesus was called the Logos or "the Word." A word is a vehicle that carries a thought from one mind to another. Nothing so makes man in the image of God than his capacity to think and communicate.

A word is a picture of something. It is the building block of intelligence. Without words and the ability to communicate, the world would be reduced to a bedlam, or Babel, or primeval slim pit in which man would be a mere insect or animal. The gift of language gives man the ability to discover, share, to dream, to build, and yes— to worship. Language was not, as the evolutionists insist, the culmination of grunts, groans, and gestures of a race of ape-men who came out of the trees. The Bible is clear that one of the first activities of the newly created Adam, was to assign names to all of God's creatures. This would require intelligence as well as articulation. It is only in our ability to express ourselves through words, and to understand the other person's thoughts that we have the ability to communicate. Once a word is spoken, a picture or image of that thing appears in the mind of the hearer. When we say the word "yellow" almost every English speaking person knows what we mean. The scientist knows it is electromagnetic radiation on the spectral scale with a wavelength range of from 410 nanometers to about 770 nm, but most of us just picture the color of a certain flower, or the sun, or a fruit.

Speech is also the closest we come to the power of creation, if that is making something out of nothing. Needs are transformed into thoughts and ideas, and those ideas take the form of words which when expressed are the beginning creation. A man needs a house, thinks about a house, plans a house, and then builds the house. In that sense the word becomes reality. It all started with an idea, and that idea necessitated a word to express it.

We should thank God for the gift of words, for the gift of speech. Yet, like every other gift from appetite, to sex, or to the natural resources like forests and rivers, they must be seen as belonging to God. The free use of the these gifts can lead to good or evil. In Colossians Paul wrote "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by him, and for him" 1:16. Speech was created by him, and for him. The misuse of speech is evidence enough of the fall of man.

A word can wound or heal. A word can be a bridge or a wall. A word can bring war or peace. One word can ruin or restore, build or break down, make heaven or hell. One word, one single word, can change the course of a life, and thus a million lives for each one influences another.

The seventh commandment is a call to fidelity, the eighth to integrity, and the ninth to veracity. We are never to lie or to mislead or misrepresent truth. When we become Christians we become

followers of the one who was not only called the "Word," we also became followers of the one who is called the "Truth."

Jesus spoke of the truth in John 8:43ff "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." In another place Jesus held his followers to the standard of absolute truth. He made no allowance for nuances of qualification, or degrees of sincerity. He said that our "yes" should mean yes and our "no" should mean no. We should be men and women of our word, because we are followers of the Word and the one who is the Truth.

Remember, it was a lie that Satan used to entice Eve into disobeying God. Remember, it was a lie that was used to indict Jesus before Pilate (false witnesses were employed to bring charges of blasphemy and treason). When the church was in its infancy, Satan again tried to compromise and contaminate its integrity with a lie (Acts 5).

Only truth is real. Those who deal in lies deal in poisonous vapors that shall choke the acrid atmosphere of hell. Lies will afford no foundation upon which to stand on judgment day. How foolish to think that any other standard will do. God knows all things.

When a word is spoken an energy for good or evil is let loose into the world. Consider the rock tossed into a tranquil pond on a warm summer's day. When a pebble breaks the surface of the water it quickly disappears from view, but the ripples travel out until they reach the farthest banks. Likewise, a word spoken sends out a ripple of sound that travels through space. Words live forever. Once a word is spoken there is no getting it back. Jesus said that every word spoken is recorded and saved up for the day of judgment (Matt. 12:36-37) "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." No wonder the Psalmist said "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight Oh, Lord."

The commandment warns us not to bear false witness against our neighbor. The New Testament tells us to "let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. . . " Col. 4:6. In another place we are warned "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" Eph. 4:29. Plenty is said in both Testaments to suggest that our words are a mighty power and force that must be controlled. The best way to control the tongue is to dedicate it to God as a minister for good. Our words must "minister grace." They must always have the end in mind of bring glory to God. We are also told to speak the "truth in love" Eph. 4:15. This means that before we speak our thoughts, we should first measure and compare them with God's thoughts. Our words should always be in harmony with God's words and tested by his truth.

Nations have risen out of the dust of defeat through the power of words. Wayward souls have been recovered. The discouraged have been encouraged, the cowardly steeled, the lethargic inspired, and passions fired, all with words. God has given man a mighty power. The Christian uses this power for good.

The sins of the tongue abound. Breaking the ninth commandment is perhaps the "besetting sin" of many Christians. If children have a tendency to play

 with matches, someone must warn them of the danger thy pose to themselves and others. James said the tongue is like a fire. The Lord alone knows how many it has burned. The ninth commandment is a warning to avoid harming and doing injury with our words. Many may never consciously make a bold face lie and yet break this commandment every day. This sin comes in many shades and causes just as many sorrows. Here are just a few of its variations.

Speaking ill of someone who is not present is a gross violation of this command. When unkind words are spoken of a person absent, beware, Satan is at work. He is a liar and the father of lies. A person who is not present is defenseless and unable to answer for, or defend himself. It is our Christian duty to come to the aid of those unable to defend themselves.

Sometimes people say unkind and cruel things about a person and then fain innocence, claiming that they were only jesting. Being humorous at someone else's expense is robbing them of reputation and respect that is theirs. Both God and the scoffer know when good natured fun crosses a line of malice. Our words should only build up and edify.

Flattery is lying to a person while looking them in the face and ascribing to them attributes that both know do not exist. It is calling evil, good. It is calling darkness, light. It appeals to sinful pride. It is wrong.

Slander is often an attempt to increase our own reputation by tearing down that of another. By pulling bricks from the rubble and ruin of slanderous bombardments many attempt to build a bigger castle for themselves. Slander is often generated by jealousy, envy, and avarice. Tearing down our competitors is often a deceptive means of crowning ourselves. Shame on those who carry a bloody scepter of slander.

Beware the whisperer. He is someone who speaks evil in hushed tones. He is the one who cups his hand over his mouth when he is about to unleash the hounds of hell. He quickly glances around the room to make sure the victim of his violence is not nearby. He shares the faults, and failures of another and then enjoins you to secrecy, knowing full well that the evil report will be soon carried like some cynical pearl of great price from house to house, every house except the poor cottage of the subject of the conversation. Beware those who set fire to the character of a neighbor, or expose the weaknesses of a brother. When you give ear to such a messenger, be assured you are not in the company of an angel.