When Eve stayed in the Garden of Eden she had direct communion with God, she was clothed with a bright glory, she had all the wisdom about her, she was in a home called paradise, she was beautiful, she was married and equal to her husband Adam, she had everything and she was happy. What happened next caused her to lose everything she had. What was that you may wonder? Let’s dive into the bible and find out.
It was nothing but the power of words. As she communed with the serpent she felt like she was talking to a higher power. As she communed with the serpent she felt like she was gaining more knowledge. As she communed with the serpent she thought of a much brighter place and position than she was in. But Alas! Instead of gaining, she simply lost everything.
She no longer had direct communion with God. The bright glory that had enclosed her was removed and she was left nude. She no longer was welcome in paradise and so God chased her out. She lost her position as an equal to her husband Adam and became his subordinate. She was unhappy owing to the power of words. The Bible has this to say about the tongue.
James 3:3-12
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Never underestimate the power of the tongue. The Devil used his tongue to bring about the fall of our first parents. The same can happen to you and me. Later on, he tried the same on Jesus Christ but he was not successful. Our Saviour endured because he was rooted in the scriptures. Jesus’ answer was “It is written”.
If we are not rooted in the bible and we have exposed ourselves to worldly fashions we are easy targets. The same tongue has destroyed homes, relationships, and friendships and even torn the church apart. Genuine brotherly love is rare nowadays we just tolerate each other for the sake of the gospel. The Devil has made some of us his agents and with our tongues is persecuting others. But is this what God requires from us? What should be genuine Christianity?
James 1:26-27
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
There are cultures that we adopt from the world in the hopes of making the church a friendly environment but these have done more harm than good. Talk about jokers and comedians that the world has turned into careers, such things have crept into the church and are causing havoc to the people of God. This should not be found in the temple of God as one misspoken word has the power to destroy a life for good.
Prov 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
James 3:1-2
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
We should learn from Jesus who possessed a tact that none of us has, or desires to have. It is said that when people spoke harshly to poor, degraded beings, Jesus sought out these very ones, and spoke to them words of encouragement. He had the right words at the right time. As He relieved their sufferings, the truths He taught were associated with His acts of mercy and were thus engrossed in the memory. What was his secret you may wonder?
‘The Scriptures of the Old Testament were His constant study, and the words, “Thus saith the Lord,” were ever upon His lips’. We too must follow his example so that our lives may be a blessing to everyone that we come in contact with. We must not mingle human requirements with the divine precepts. The worldly fashions are not for us to follow or to covet. We must set ourselves apart and that way we can live Godly lives.
May God help us to choose wisely the things that we listen to and help us to control our tongues.
Be blessed and see you in the next lesson
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