CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD

 Words are important. It’s not untrue to say that words are cameos of God! Even the letters used to form words, like the encoded letters of our DNA, are important. As damaged strands of DNA can lead to deformity, so garbled spelling or choosing the wrong word can lead to misunderstanding.

            Which of all the so called ‘holy books’ is the true or right Word of God? Jesus calls the Christian Bible ‘the truth’ (John 17:17). Therein God is revealed as the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit (John 1:1-3, 14; Acts 5:3-4; 1 John 5:7 KJV). Therefore God is three distinct Persons, but only one God (Genesis 1:1-3, 26; Deuteronomy 6:4).

By saying to His Father, ‘Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth’ Jesus (the Word) was asking God to set apart His people (i.e., Christians from non-Christians), by use of the Bible which is the written Word of God. Thus there are those who believe that all (sixty-six books) of the Bible is truth and there are those who choose to believe only portions or even none at all. But true Christians are people of the Book.

Since it was God who wrote the Bible using men we can be sure that His Spirit ensured that every word chosen is pure (2 Timothy 3:16). We see an example of choosing the right word in Scripture, ‘The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true’ Ecclesiastes 12:10. I love the Bible (to quote the Westminster Confession of Faith) for ‘the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God).’

As a calm lake reflects a mountain, so truth mirrors God. Therefore, God can be seen in the right use of words. How so? Because when used properly as God intended they convey truth! What God has written is upright and true. We see God revealed in His Word. Jesus says of the Scriptures, ‘These are the Scriptures that testify about Me’ John 5:39b. He is the eternal Word, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” John 1:1 &14a.

He is God’s final or last word to mankind, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” Hebrews 1:1-2a.

God has chosen His Word carefully, and, like our DNA Jesus, the Word, is the building block of life, ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who puts his trust in Him will never be put to shame’ 1 Peter 2:6. Indeed, Jesus is the alphabet of life. He says, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the end’ Revelation 22:13.

Before any collection of strung-together words finds its way to being published it must go through the editor. Before anyone finds his or her way to God they must go through the Alpha and the Omega, the Word, who is Jesus. For He says, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ John 14:6.

We ought to choose our words carefully because Jesus says, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” Matthew 12:36-37.

I’m thankful that Jesus makes all my careless thoughts, words, and deeds letter perfect! I encourage everyone to choose the right Word: Jesus.