A person's words show what is in a person's heart. God destroyed the earth by the Flood. Why? "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen6:5).

What is the sign that a person has a wicked heart and evil thoughts today? "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Mat12:34).

Using God's name wrongly shows a problem, an evil heart. People kick the name of God around like a kid kicks a rusty tin can down the street. The world does most of the kicking and stamping.

You occasionally hear a Christian also violate the teaching of the third commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" means to make His name common and to empty His name of sacredness.

Christians who love Jesus Christ have one glorious option, "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together" (Ps34:3). Isn't what comes out of a person's mouth a reflection of that person's heart? What about exalting God and taking His name in vain? "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (Jas3:10). Do you suppose Jesus saw our day coming when He taught us to pray, "Hallowed be thy name" (Mat6:9)? "Hallow means "to sanctify, to make holy, to revere, to keep holy, to set apart".

Ignorance of God's Word is not a valid excuse for taking God's name in vain. We cannot condone what God condemns. Christians, who cry out, "Holy!" or "Oh, God!" or "Oh, for Heaven's sake!", need to listen to Jesus.

Clean speech is serious to the Lord. People flippantly say, "O Lord!" and "O God!" and others just cry out, "God!". Jesus Christ will sit on the throne of judgment and He warned: "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Mat12:36:3).

The name of Jesus Christ is not a curse word! Rather, "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow" (Phil2:10). If you are going to Heaven, you will have to go through the precious name of Jesus Christ. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts4:12).

by:  Perry Rockwood
     The People's Gospel Hour
     P O Box 1660
     Halifax, Canada B3J 3A1