I remember being told by my parent's, "sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never harm you". I quickly found out that was not true. I have been hurt more by words than any other weapon formed by man. I think of how many victims have been claimed by the words 'I don't love you anymore' or the words ' I hate you'. I also quickly learned that I can be hurt by my own words. I became quite adept at distinguishing the difference between Irish Spring and Safeguard, and found out that one of my 2000 parts was my tongue. When my mother became concerned about the ingredients of soap she switched to a touch of cayenne pepper on the tongue. It was better for me than soap, but still got the point across. To this day I have a high tolerance for spicy foods.

Words can also be a great blessing in our lives. I remember waiting and wondering what my son's first word was going to be. Would it be daddy or mommy? As strange as it was, his first word was ‘tickle’. Needless to say my wife and I were both tickled. Many words bring joy to our lives, such as the words ' I love you' or 'thank you' especially when they are uttered from the mouths of our children.

Some words are important, words that carry a lot of weight, such as death bed confessions. I have been told that they are admissible in the court of law. Everyone loves famous last words. One man who was dying said, "Tell them I said something important", then he breathed his last. Whether it is your first or last word, or one of the millions in between, the words spoken over the course of our life may have a greater importance than we might think. Jesus said, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”, Matthew 12:36 & 37 NKJV. Most people that you run into today, who are trying to peddle religion, are quick to tell you that it is your works that are most important, but the Bible is very clear that it will be, not our works, Galatians 2:8 & 9, but our words.

It is hard to imagine the horror of every word being brought to light. Once my wife was babysitting for some friends of ours, while doing a Bible study time with their children before bed, they came across the subject of gossip. She instructed them on how it was wrong to say bad things about people when they are not around. One of the children said, “you mean, like my mommy talks about you sometimes to daddy when she is frustrated with you?” My wife smiled and said, “yes, kind of like that”. I think it would be bad enough to have every idle word, I have ever spoken, be brought to light. Think of the shame and embarrassment of that alone, but then to have to give an account for each one to plead for my justification, no doubt that would lead to my condemnation.

The Bible tells us that God is holy and separate from sin. That if I have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory I am deserving of death, Romans 6:23. I have used my mouth to slander, gossip, lie, speak heresy, sew discord and take the Lord’s name in vain. The Bible tells us very clearly that God will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain Exodus 20:7. It also says that all liars will have their portion in the lake that burns with fire, this is the second death, Revelation 21:8.

The bad news is that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, Romans 3:23. Every one of us is unrighteous before a holy God and therefore we are unable to approach Him. Every one of us has lied, we all deserve judgment on the day of judgment.

The passage in Matthew Chapter 12:37 says that by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Does this mean that there are those who will escape condemnation and be justified by their words? There is a passage of considerable interest in the book of Romans it says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Romans 10:9-13 NKJV

This passage seems to indicate that through belief in the work of Jesus Christ, that is, that He died on the cross in our place, was buried, and on the third day God raised Him from the dead, we are accounted as righteous before God the Father. Then, when we proclaim with our mouth that we believe Jesus Christ saved us, we are confessing unto salvation. It ends with the wonderful statement “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved”. These words of confession are, without a doubt, the most important words we will ever utter in our lifetime. For it is only this confession that will be brought forward on the Day of Judgment for those who believe.

I think it is interesting to note that it specifically says “if you believe in your heart” vs.9 of Romans 10. It would seem to indicate that if you don’t believe that Jesus paid it all, that the confession would not bring about salvation. You cannot have one without the other, you must have belief and confession. Your words must mean something, otherwise they are idle. Some may have confessed Christ in the past, but never really trusted in Him for their salvation. Their idle confession will be brought forth as evidence against them on the Day of Judgment. They knew but they had an evil heart of unbelief.

Also we cannot have belief without confession. Paul said, “If we deny Him, He also will deny us” 2 Timothy 2:12. Jesus said," whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” Matthew 10:33 NKJV. If we believe but are afraid of what people think, then confession is never made and salvation is never granted.

It is important that we believe that Jesus Christ paid the full price to bring about total righteousness and salvation to those who believe and confess. Not by works which we have done but by the blood of Jesus Christ are we made perfect before the Father. I guess all that is left is to ask you. Have you believed on Jesus Christ for your complete salvation? Have you confessed this before men? What words do you want to be accountable for on the Day of Judgment? Don’t waste any time, believe on Jesus Christ and confess Him to the first person you see. Jesus promises, all who call on Him will not be put to shame.

For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV