Communication
Signs
When sorting through boxes of old letters, my heart can be overwhelmed. I recognize the handwriting of important people I've loved, and I "see" them, again, even before I take time to read the messages they left behind. Grandma was always an energetic and busy lady, and her words of love scrawled on a quick post card signal the life of my dearest childhood treasure. My teacher-mom had the perfect Palmer Method penmanship, while teacher-preacher dad's hand revealed more of his humorous character in his less-than-perfect manner of writing.
In a Sunday school class, we caught the children's attention when we had each of them write his or her name on individual envelopes. Their eyes lit up as they comprehended the depths of meaning of their own signature as a sign of something beyond the paper and pencil and written letters. What was inside the envelope indicated that each of us is more than our "signature."
So, what is the connection between signs, signature, signal, and significant? It is the root: sign [from the Latin: signum (noun) mark, sign, ensign, signal, image; and (verb): Middle English signen to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross].
One dictionary's definition of sign is any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that conveys a meaning. Now, that is significant! While the handwriting of a loved one on an old letter instantly brings the person behind it to mind, the world can look at signs of the Creator's signature evident in His works and fail to recognize inside the "envelope" what it means. Some may question what they see because they refuse to acknowledge any Designer. They deny His handiwork because they don't know Him. In essence, they look at the "paper and pencil" image and make up their own meaning, thus missing the mark. Those of us who have a relationship with the Author of the universe marvel, instead, as we explore both His works and His Word, seeking to better understand the Lord's message to us.
All of which brings us beyond the creation-evolution debate to a look at words, themselves, as "signs." How appropriate that Jesus is identified as the "Alpha and Omega," the first and last letters of the alphabet; as well as "the Word made flesh!" And, of what is the "flesh" of this world composed except of the message found in the unique genetic code DNA of each kind of creation! I'm reminded of the book In the Beginning Was Information – A Scientist Explains the Incredible Design in Nature – by Dr. Werner Gitt. [fn]
In digging into original language alphabets, I've had a strange sensation of scratching a bit of paint off a window blackened with paint. The brilliance of the sunlight coming through the narrow scratch is so blinding, I know what remains covered must be beyond overwhelming.
For anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of the original Old Testament language, the King James Version (and others) includes the Hebrew alphabet (introducing the segments) in Psalm 119. From there, I moved on to find and incorporate a favorite book in my library on the mystery of the Hebrew alphabet. Recently I made another discovery. With today's technology, one doesn't even need to go shopping for books, since so much is available online (for those in tune with computer use). Free for the taking, one can explore with a teacher on YouTube, who explains the behind-the-scenes meaning of each Hebrew letter. Beyond even words, each letter has meaning that boggles one's mind!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 ESV)
Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory…From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. (Matthew 24:30,32-33 ESV)
Copyright 2015 by---Edy T Johnson---
[fn] See also The Gospel In The Stars by Joseph Seiss (a remarkable study of what I term "The Original Manuscript")
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