Thought for the Day: Proverbs 18:21a
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”
Man was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27; 9:6). God’s first act was to create (Gen. 1:1). He spoke the world into existence from nothing, ex nihilo.
And God said, Let…
There be light – Gen. 1:3
There be a firmament – Gen. 1:6
The waters… be gathered together – Gen. 1:9
The earth bring forth – Gen. 1:11
There be lights… for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years – Gen. 1:14
Them be for lights… to give light upon the earth – Gen. 1:15
The waters bring forth abundantly – Gen. 1:20
The earth bring forth – Gen. 1:24
US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE – Gen. 1:26
The triune Creator God of the universe created man in His image. That is why man is defined as a trichotomy (a fancy word meaning it takes three parts to make the whole).
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Because we are made in the image of God, we are naturally indued with certain ‘powers’ and properties that mirror God’s nature.
Much like the LORD, when we speak, we have the power to create.
Please allow me to illustrate.
When you walk into a room full of people, whatever comes out of your mouth can completely transform the environment where you are standing. You can say mean and hurtful things creating a hostile environment. You can say something encouraging, inspirational, or uplifting and create a positive environment. You can walk into a hospital room where people are hurting and through a few kind words bring peace.
Please allow me to give more pointed illustrations.
Hitler never pulled a trigger. Yet through his words, orders, and speeches Hitler is responsible of the death of millions of people.
Stalin sent millions of people to their death with his words.
The Roman Senator Cato occasioned the complete destruction of Carthage by ending all of his speeches with something to the effect of, “Carthage must be destroyed.” Thousands of people killed, a city annihilated, and all because of one man’s words.
As men and women created in the image of God, we have an incredible power to create. With that power also comes an even greater responsibility. God is going to hold us accountable someday for what has come out of our mouths.
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Those words were spoken by the LORD Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. We will all give an account for what we have created through our words.
Please also note the order the words are given to us in our verse today, “death and life.”
Because of our sin nature* usually the first thing out of our mouths is something that brings death.
You can destroy people with your words. You can abuse your spouse, children, relatives, friends, or aquaintances and never lay a finger on them. You can drive people to the brink of suicide and never physically touch them. This damage can come through your words.
Conversely, you can strengthen, encourage, and build people up through your words. This ability in truth only comes from the regeneration given to those by the Spirit of God through belief in His Son the LORD Jesus Christ.
If you are a believer, you are under a biblical mandate to help people through your words.
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
“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.”
Create something beautiful today! Create peace!
“Blessed are the peacemakers:for they shall be called the children of God.”
*(All men are sinners because of Adam’s fall. When we are born, we are born with a sin nature. Romans 3:10; 3:23. When Adam sinned in the garden, the image of God was not erased but rather defaced, or marred. We are still procreated in the image of God but with a natural bend towards sin. This destructive nature can only be replaced by the redeeming power that comes through salvation. When a man or woman admits (confesses) they are a sinner and asks for forgiveness from the LORD Jesus Christ, placing their faith (belief) in the LORD Jesus Christ that he paid for their sins through his death on the cross and justified them through the power of His resurrection, they will be saved.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
– Romans 10:13)
– S.C.P.
Sojourner in Asia 