Lots of Words Talking about Words

I'm re-reading A.W. Tozer's book, “The Pursuit of Holiness” and these words provoked some thought in me this week: 

“It is probably impossible to think without words, but if we permit ourselves to think with the wrong words, we shall soon be entertaining erroneous thoughts; for words, which are given us for the expression of thought, have a habit of going beyond their proper bound and determining the content of the thought.”

The mouth is the gate from which the fruit of thought proceeds. 

Words, weather few or many, are devices of purpose.

They are: 

uniting, healing, attesting, hurtful, 

accusing, loving, defending, hateful, 

encouraging, careless, vain, or fruitful.

Spoken - or enclosed in the protection of thought-  

we are without the ability to reject the use of them in our daily lives. 

Words are the framework for meaning and understanding. We use words to define ourselves, communicate our beliefs and emotions, and set our world views.

Words are power. The greatest display of this was God's use of words to speak the creation of the world. God said light, darkness, day, night, water, land, plants , and animals and they existed. John 1:1 states, 

“In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was GOD.”

Our use of words only mirror that freedom of speech the Lord only holds. Every poem, song, monologue, play, movie, book, blog, or speech given by man holds a limit of expression. A painter may paint their imagined world to life on their canvas; but, it would only mirror that which already existed by the words of God.

True creativity is the Lord's. Therefore, to take pride in that which we form is empty.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Famous authors, theologians, and philosophers have prominance through History due to their eloquence of speech. It's understood by all that the words of some hold more power in the eyes of man than that of the average joe shmo. Our president for example, He speaks and the world hears. Or my comment to matt the other day was, as of yesterday, John Foreman has 89, 361 people following the every day events in his life on twitter. (I wonder what his wife thinks about that, haha) As stressful as that would be, we all desire that same aspect of recognition.

There is nothing new under the sun.

In Genesis 11 the whole earth was unified in language and in thought.

“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4

Contrary to the pursuit of God they entertained the erroneous thought of being their own, and aspired with determination to bring it about.

Further reasons why God was given no part in this venture of man: God commanded them to be fruitful and “fill the earth” in (9:1). Therefore, man was working against the will of God. Secondly, if He had been an active participant, He wouldn't have to “come down to see it” (11:5). In the end, the words of man hold no authority against the Lord and that which the people would not do out of obedience, God did for them in judgement. He confused their language, thus disturbing their unity in thought, and dispersed them.

We hear a different desire in the cry of the psalmist, 

Psalm 19:14: "Let the [WORDS] of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart [THOUGHT], be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” 

What purpose is there in speaking if I can only repeat the empty echo of passing syllables? What is it to speak worthwhile words? I think it is well put by Oswald Chambers when He says, 

“If we preach the effects of redemption in human life instead of the revelation regarding Jesus Christ, the result in those who listen is not new birth, but refined spiritual culture, and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is another domain.”

She is so wise! He has the best personality! You are so deep, so insightful, so creative, so beautiful and eloquent!  --- what meaning do these things hold when you face the inevitable fact that there will always be another who could match or exceed your abilities and talents? And all the while, all their efforts are but a recycled product of what has already been. 

There is nothing new under the sun.

Here is the conclusion. New life - beyond the sun - is in ---> the son.

Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross are the only subjects of conversation that will never diminish or pass away for the rest of eternity. His perfect life, his sacrificial death, his powerful resurrection, and freedom from sin are the only worthwhile and substantial places of investment.

"I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom, for I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." - Paul the Apostle. 

 To know what words are well to speak
 is to know the God who first spoke them.