Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17
I watch a skilled cabinet maker ply his trade, and admire the lovely creations that appear in his hands. I stand behind the easel of an artist whose brush brings out the loveliness of a scene that had appeared commonplace before. I gaze enraptured as the sculptor’s chisel pares away all but the breathtaking beauty that was locked inside that granite. Each of these artists allows their hands to bring out beauty that arises in their hearts, and, lacking any artistic talent, I can only envy their abilities. But their is another medium in which I am able to work a bit, that of the English language. As a wordsmith for almost 50 years, I know the thrill of a well-written line that unfolds far more than the sum of its individual words. That’s why I thrill at the way in which the apostle Paul pens this great benediction, words so magnificent that only the Holy Spirit could inspire Him to write them.
Among the many gems of Scripture are those, like today’s text, that exalt the wonders and greatness of our God. If we will study these, we will surely discover that the very best words ever written, the most beautifully arranged expressions, the highest use to which language has ever reached, is the speaking forth of the majesty and glory of our God. And this should be a lesson for us today. How will you and I use words? Will we allow our lips and our pens (keyboards in this electronic age) to toss around the language on the mindless fluff of this world? Or will we seek to express our thanks and appreciation to our Lord, using the language to uplift and honour Him? Even in our Bibles we see the pattern for the way in which our tongues should employ the language.
I am not a King James Only purist. I know this version is just a translation, and there may well be better ones that are more accurate in their presentation of the truth of the original. But I also know that God has blessed this great version as no other book in the world has been blessed. The KJV has something that every other version of Scripture lacks, a beauty of expression and a regal cadence that brings out the very character of our God. As this Book honours God in its expression, God has honoured this Book. Will we ever give up the KJV as our primary version for use among the Lord’s people? Maybe. I surely hope that day will be long after I have ceased to need its paper pages and my eyes lift in Glory to behold the Word of God Himself.
May our words today be like those of Paul, in ascribing honour and glory to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. -Jim MacIntosh