"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."

                                                                        James 3:6

     Man is the only creature who has been given the creative instrument of words. It is one of the great attributes that God gave man in making him in his own image. We have the ability to speak words that can alter the course of our lives. Nine times we find God saying what he "willed" to come to pass in Genesis chapter one. One of those statements was the creation of man. We could say it this way: Man is a product of words. Man's dominion was also a product of words; for in saying what he wanted to do in creating man, he also gave him a resume for life - he was to rule over all of creation. Sin of course, caused man to fall from such a lofty expectation, but it didn't change the fact that man was destined to live with the power to use such a creative instrument as the tongue. Proverbs tells us,"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Pro. 18:21). Does it not hold tremendous significance that it was God's Word that he sent to redeem man? John opens his gospel by saying: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Later, in verse fourteen, he says, "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

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Does it not hold tremendous significance that it was God's Word that he sent to redeem man?

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     In James chapter three, we find a spiritual law being set in motion by the creative power of the tongue. The very fact that he states that it is the tongue that sets on fire the course of nature, is a clear indication that the tongue paves the path that we will inevitably walk upon. What many times we fail to realize is that the heart and the mouth are connected in such a way that when they harmonize - either on something good and acceptable, or on something not good and harmful - that it turns the wheel in whatever direction we set it toward.   From a believer's point of view, we do not have to follow a path that has been set on fire of hell, because we know the importance of speaking right words. What James spoke was meant for those who do not understand the power of the tongue, explaining how things can turn out badly because the enemy uses the tongue to manipulate his own purposes. If we can ever learn to speak only what God's word declares (or what agrees with God's word), then we can reverse the process that will ultimately end in destruction and bring about good things that are destined to impact our lives in a positive way.

     To the individual who is born again and learns how to speak only right words, this verse would read something like this: "And the tongue is a fire, an aggregate of righteousness; so is the tongue among our members that it sanctifies the whole body and starts the wheel of genesis into motion, having its ignition enflamed by a heavenly fire." What we actually discover here, is that the word "course" should be translated wheel, and the word "nature" should be translated genesis, or that which has a beginning or is birthed. When God created man he gave him the ability to start and finish his own destiny by the power of his own tongue. That is why it is called the wheel of genesis. It begins the process of things that will ultimately come to pass.

     Everything starts with words. That is the secret of what God wants you to know-in the beginning was and is and forever will be the Word! What comes out of your mouth can and will alter your life and destiny. Listen to the words of the Psalmist: "Whoever offereth praise glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God" (Psa. 50:23). The word "ordereth" means to set in place, to plant, to fix, to establish in a specific direction.  By ordering your tongue to say only righteous words, you are planting a crop that will eventually harvest for you a provision full of redemption!

     What is it that you want to see planted or set in motion? Is there a specific direction you need established so that you are on the right path, at the right time, doing the right things for God? If you want to see goodly changes, then use the creative power of words to start the ball rolling. Will the things you desire suddenly appear before your eyes? No, not anymore than a seed you sow in the ground will suddenly spring up into a full harvest overnight. But what you have done by speaking consistently in line with what you "will" to see come to pass, is you have begun the process of genesis - you have turned the hem of your life, and only time will reveal your desired destination.

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