Watch Your Mouth
M Adam Roberts

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the word was Elohim.

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.

John 1: Verses 1, 3
Sacred Name Bible

According to the teachings of the Christian faith, humankind was created in the very likeness of the Creator him- or herself. The scriptures say we were created in His exact image, originally intended to be just like Him in every aspect of our existence.

What does that mean? Elohim, a Hebrew word or title once denoted that one believed in a Supreme Being or Mighty One. The word is spiritual.

How can it be that we, who live in physical bodies, can resemble, or be like, our spiritual maker? How is it that we reflect His or Her likeness or character? Could it be that we have the same power to create and destroy life through our words as He used to bring everything into existence from the beginning?

Human beings are the only creatures on earth that have the ability to speak. Sure, other animals have ways they are able to communicate with those of their own species, and they even have ways they are, somewhat, able to communicate with creatures outside of their species, but only humans have the ability to speak audible words of creative and destructive power. Other animals have no such ability.

I believe this gift, this power, given us, is what makes us "like" our Creator. It is what separates us from all other life forms. This power gives us dominion over all of creation. Whether you believe in a Creator or not, you must admit, our tongues have amazing, creative power within them. We truly have the power to create life, or destroy it, all through the use of our words.

In research for this piece, I flipped back to the very first book of the Holy Bible and began reading in the first chapter of Genesis. It starts out with these words, "In the beginning Elohim created." Most of have read or heard these words, at one time or another.

After reading the opening verse of the book, I scrolled through the rest of the chapter and noticed something I had not noticed before. Throughout the entire creation chapter, each verse began with Elohim speaking something into existence. It was by, and through His word that He brought all things into existence. I believe we are all capable of doing the same. Our only limitation lies within our ability to believe.

I am aware that there are many who don't believe as I do. Many believe that all things came into existence through some scientific explanation void of any Supreme Intelligence being behind it. They can't possibly perceive how an eternal, all powerful, all knowing, spiritual being could possibly exist and bring into reality the existence of all things. To be completely honest with you, I can't begin to comprehend how that could be possible either, but somehow, deep inside, I believe it is true. I have complete peace and assurance in believing that some things are beyond my ability to understand. Just because my feeble, little human mind can't understand how something can exist doesn't mean that it doesn't. It's far harder for me to believe that all things came from nothing, and nowhere, than it is for me to believe that there is something, or someone, greater than my mind can comprehend that is behind everything. Yes, it requires a great leap of faith to imagine such a thing, but I'm cool with that. I don't understand many parts of life. I likely won't understand these parts of life, ever. Understanding how Elohim can exist and create all things through the power of His word is just another one of those things for me. I accept it by faith, which is the evidence of things unseen.

Among the evidence of an Almighty Creator, I see, is my own ability to create and destroy things through the power of my own words. Isn't it ironic that we humans are able to do that? Doesn't that fit right in with the rest of the creation story? Elohim, or father, creates and destroys, so wouldn't it make since that His children would be able to do the same? Not only are we able to do it, it is our nature to do it.

I'm not going to sit here and write out a dozen examples for you about how we are able create and destroy things through the power of our words. I'm sure you know as well as I do how we are able to do that. What I really want to address is that even though we are aware that we have the power and capacity to do this, we do not realize, often enough, that every word we speak is going out into the universe with tremendous creative or destructive power behind it! I don't think most of us realize how powerful our thoughts and words are.

Recently, I read a book titled, "The Four Agreements," by Don Miguel Ruiz. It's among the best books I've read. I suggest you check it out.

In the book, the author reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering in our lives. Based on ancient, Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offers us a powerful code of conduct for living that can lead us to a new experience of love, happiness and freedom in our lives.

The first code of conduct the book teaches is that we need to become impeccable with our word. By impeccable is meant, without sin or true and honest. The author goes on further to define sin as anything one does that goes against the self.

I know this definition of sin might differ from what many others might believe it to be, but let me explain what the author of the book is trying to help us see.

If I scream out at you and say, "I hate you! You're stupid and worthless and a complete waste of good air"! it's going to hurt and insult you, of course. As much as it hurts you, it's going to come back and hurt me too. See, when I say these things to you, it is going to make you hate me for saying it. Your hating me is not good for me. It's going to make me feel badly, at the very least.

In essence, being impeccable with our words is a way of, ultimately, loving ourselves. When we send out love, we receive back love. When we send out positivity, positive things will return to us. If we desire a life of goodness, peace, prosperity and love, we need to speak these things into existence by believing them into the lives of others.

Our words have the power to create heaven or hell on earth. Our words also have the power to create heaven or hell in others lives too, but only if the recipient receives our words as truth. Our words are a powerful force, yes, but not all powerful. Words without faith behind them are just sounds. Words not received are just words without effect. Point being, we don't have to accept words into our lives that are untrue or not good for us. Just because someone speaks something towards us doesn't mean that we have to receive it. We can counter-punch negative words spoken against us by speaking positive words of our own and then believing on them.

It's amazing to me that I have the ability to create anything I want today. I can go out and create a smile on someone's face today. I can make someone feel good about him- or herself. I can help someone see the possibility in his or her life. I can give someone hope.

I know it. You know it. We've always known it. What are we doing with our special gift? Do we really realize that we have the power to create heaven and hell on earth? Do we really realize that we are creating one or the other with every word we speak?

It's time we start becoming impeccable with our word, because whether we realize it or not, it will not return to us void.