the language of heaven

Would you like to be able to speak and understand the same language that God speaks? Those of you who are linguists or who love words and learning foreign languages might think I'm referring to Hebrew, or Greek, as God's preferred language. But the language that God has always preferred to use when communicating with humankind goes way beyond just one ethnic group. Consider these Scriptures and see if you agree that the language of heaven (intended for human ears) is the physical, created order: stars, galaxies, plants, animals, sand, clay, water, wind, fire, lightning, clouds, etc., etc.

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made . . . he spoke and it came to be. (Ps.33:6,9)

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth their speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world. (Ps. 19:1-4)

Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom. 1:20)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (Jn 1:14)

Jesus began to teach by the lake . . . He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said, "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed . . ."

Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?" . . .

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. (Mark 4)

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. . . I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?" (Jn. 3:8,12)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (I Jn. 1:1)

Did you notice how "earthy", how sensual (pertaining to the senses) God's communication to us is? None of this highly metaphysical, philosophically astute, academically refined stuff in God's manner of speaking. Oh, He can talk that way if He wants (Paul's letters tend somewhat in that direction), but that's not His preferred or most common way of speaking. He not only enjoys using very down-to- earth ways of speaking, he also enjoys speaking through the most ordinary and common of people, as this last Scripture makes quite clear to us:

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams. . .

I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood . . . (Acts 2:17-20)

When God wants to make sure His message gets through to us you can be sure He will use the most effective language possible, and it will involve all of our senses!

So, today, as we reflect again on the most amazing communication of all - the Word becoming flesh - may we resolve to continue expanding our awareness of the innumerable other ways in which our Father is speaking to us through his creation.