P. Pilgrim
ver these past days we have been listening to the blood-curdling words of two very strong and potentially influential men. They have been using words like treason, mutiny, betrayal and anarchy. These words conjure up fear and wariness around the world. They have worried foreign powers sufficiently that they have held talks with each other to make contingency plans if civil war was to break out. What will happen! Thankfully cooler heads have prevailed and calm and stability appears to have returned. However, this reaction shows us that words can be very powerful, they can have an impact on daily life.
Words are not simply sounds caused by our mouths shaping air passing through our larynx. Words consist of vibration and sound and it is these vibrations that create the very reality that surrounds us. Without words, a thought can never become anything more than in our minds. Imagine if you could think but couldn’t then express it in words! What a terrible thought, how restrictive would our lives have been. Instead of this, we have the ability to express our ideas in words and convey our innermost feelings to those around us. As a result of this creativeness, words have real power, they ignite a spark inside of man that is difficult to change. Words can change the course of life. A word can destroy the peace and tranquility in a family, society, or country. Words like mutiny and treason bring fear and distrust to communities. Therefore, it is important to use words wisely and guardedly. On the other hand, we have words like I love you, take care and let me help you that when they are said, generate a passion and thoughtfulness that brings a smile and happiness to people. The emotions that films and poems can generate is incredible, from tears of joy to tears of heart break all because of the words used. Words have the power and energy to rejuvenate, to thwart, to hurt, to offend, and to humble. They can bring people together or tear them apart. Words can strengthen the truth or foster a lie. An architect designs and builds his building with great care and attention, he wants to produce a masterpiece. With words we can build masterpieces of hope and confidence but we can also destroy and damage others with idle or untrue words. One saying in the western world is ‘if you haven’t anything nice to say, say nothing at all.’ The power of words to wound and destroy the hope or anticipation of men is evident around us. People over hear a word and think they are unworthy, that they are undesirable, and the effect can be life threatening.
In the New Testament in the gospel of John chapter 1 v 1 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ verse 14 continues “and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” Jesus Christ is the Word clearly spoken of in verse one. Among men words are said to be the image of the mind, what is in their thoughts and ideas, so it is appropriate to apply this idea to God, and to say that he reveals himself to us by his word because Christ is the lively image of God. What does God want us to understand, he has told us through the word of Jesus Christ. Christ is the beginning, Christ is the end, he is the eternal God.
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