“You ever think about silence?” Stan asked while we waited for breakfast.
“Think about silence?” I replied. “What’s there to think about?”
“Lots of things,” he said. “Just the other day, for example, I was thinking about some of the common expressions about silence, and how at least one of them is not true in one very important context.”
“What kind of expressions?” I asked.
“Well,” he replied, “how about the one that ‘children should be seen and not heard’?”
“Probably first spoken by some curmudgeon,” I commented.
“Could be,” Stan said, “but how about the expression, ’Silence is golden’?”
“Silence is golden,” I repeated. “I suppose there are times when it’s better not to say anything. In fact, I remember my mom telling me more than once that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.”
“That kind of silence certainly could be golden,” Stan said, “and there’s a lot of people who probably should practice that.”
“Along this line,” he continued, “the other day I was reading in the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome and was reminded of the importance of not being silent when I’m supposed to speak up.”
“The importance of not being silent?” I replied. “How so?”
“You may remember,” Stan said, “that the apostle Paul pointed out that faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.”
“So?”
“In order for people to hear, other people have to speak, not be silent. Had no one ever spoken to me the truth of God’s provision of salvation, how would I have heard about it and been able to accept it?”
“I can see that,” I replied. “Same thing with me. Someone broke the silence and spoke the truth. I heard it, accepted it, and I’ve never looked back.”
Continuing, I added, “Maybe that’s why the Christian population is not as great as it should be. Maybe too many Christians are being silent when they should speak up.”
“And,” Stan added, “maybe that’s why the world is the way it is. Why don’t we try speaking up, rather than being silent, and see if we can make a difference?!”
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Bible verses to consider:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17.
Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15.
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:2.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the truth of your provision of life eternally with you when my time here is done. Thank you, too, for the truth of what you have for me to be and to do as I walk ever more closely with you on this side of eternity. Thank you for those who brought me to the truth and the truth to me. I confess that too often I am silent and I do not speak the truth of your provision to others so they have the opportunity to accept it. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead so I do not stay silent, but speak the truth to others, so it can and will make a difference in their eternal destination and in their lives on this side of eternity. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you heard and accepted the truth so you know you will spend eternity in God’s presence when it’s time? If so, it’s because someone presented the truth to you, probably by speaking. If you’ve heard the truth and have not accepted it, why? What’s holding you back? If you are a Christian, how are you doing with not being silent about speaking the truth so others can hear it, accept it, and have their lives and eternal destination changed? If you sense the need to not be silent, but to speak up, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 