A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

  Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Harriet was the church gossip. Several members of her church, as well as the pastor, were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new church member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked all afternoon in front of the town’s bar. She commented to George, and others in the congregation, that everyone seeing it there would know that he was an alcoholic. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment after she made her scurrilous comments and then just walked away. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Harriet’s house and left it there all night. My how sometimes we are forced to eat our words. In fact, our text today essentially reminds us of that fact. Not only does the wise king Solomon tell us the power our tongue has of “death and life,” but also that “they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Words have power. Words have consequences. When God spoke the cosmos into existence in Genesis 1:3, He said, “Let there be light . . .” and the creation event that still expands the universe was borne. In Genesis 1:27, Sacred Scripture reminds us that we are created in the likeness and image of God. Thus, we too have the ability to create using our words. We can, by our words, build people up and bring life. Or, like Harriet in our story this morning, we can, by our words, tear people down. The choice is ours. The tongue is a powerful tool. In James 3:10, the apostle reminds us that “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.” The choice is ours. Each day is a new day; a day of boundless opportunities; an empty page; a blank canvas awaiting our creative nature to fashion it in the manner we desire. Our words are the oils and brush to the canvas. The hammer and chisel to the block of marble, to fashion a day as we desire. Today, let us choose to create a day filled with hope, peace, compassion and love. With our words, let us create a day of light that pushes back the darkness ensuring for all the brilliance of a glorious new day.