Words create worlds. Words can also destroy worlds. Proverbs 18:21 states, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (NASB). How do words create life? Words create life by encouraging, edifying, complimenting, prophesying, correcting, and laughter. However, words can create death by denegrading, insulting, criticizing, abusing, gossiping, and judging. As followers of Jesus Christ, we want to use our words to create worlds that are life-giving.
1) Words Created Life
The very beginning of existence was spoken into life. Genesis 1:1-3, “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. The Earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God SAID, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (ESV). The rest of Genesis 1, tells us that God spoke the waters and dry land into existence. He also spoke the sun, moon, and stars into existence. We see that vegetation and trees, plants, and animals were all spoken to life. The only thing God hand-crafted was Adam. Think of the creativity God spoke into existence, from the tall giraffe, to the tiny pika, from the massive elephant, to the colorful hummingbird, from the duck-billed platypus to the black and white panda.
When we use our words to create, we open up new worlds of thought. We support hope and usher peace into dark situations. What you speak grows. Something can start small and when you give voice to that thought, you are expanding on it, allowing that thought to grow. We speak life with our words. Are you speaking truth in love? Are you speaking hope and life? Proverbs 15:4 — “Gentle words bring life and health…” (NLT).
2) Words Sealed God’s Plan
The final words spoken by people generally carry a lot of weight. On the cross, as Jesus was dying for the sins of the world, He spoke some of the most powerful words known. He stated, “It is Finished” (John 19:28-30). When Jesus spoke these words, they carried great meaning. He wasn’t just stating that death was imminent.
Jesus statement on the cross signified an end to the sacrificial system of approaching God, and it ushered in the right for every man, woman, and child to enter into the presence of God. Mark 15:38 tells us the veil in the temple was torn in two. That temple veil was the barrier between the people and God. Only the high priest was allowed into the inner sanctuary, the presence of God. As Jesus finished His work on the cross, He opened that veil to allow us into God’s presence.
Similarly, “it is finished,” indicated that Jesus’ work on Earth was now complete. He had paid the ultimate price for mankind’s sin and bought our redemption. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (ESV). Because of the finishing work of Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin and death.