Languages and heaven

7:30 AM finds me each morning in Greek class. Whoddu thunk it—learning Greek in Spanish. I have long wanted to learn Greek—even attempted to memorize the alphabet in college on my own, but was a little intimidated by the challenge of learning Greek in a second language that I am still mastering.

Although I was intimidated, I find it rather amusing now that I am tutoring in Greek to Spanish students…. I have the advantage of knowing that there are different ways to communicate (that is to say, you cannot, cannot translate directly). And I know grammar, which, unfortunately, is a thing that the Honduran schools tend to overlook.

In short, I am amazed at the complexity of languages. I am definitely still learning Spanish—still working on the subjunctive (a mode we do not have in English), and still working on the fluency—just letting it burst! There is so much variety and depth to the languages, so many different ways to express concepts, so many subtle nuances (which also haunts me in Spanish….).

The fun thing is that in heaven, I think we will know every single language. I think that every language reveals a little bit more of God--is able to express his attributes and his characteristics a little bit differently, revealing a little more of who He is. Being an infinite God, the 6,700 recognized languages today still cannot capture every aspect of him. So I think in heaven we'll be able to worship in every single language and understand God more completely...but never understand him so fully. We'll spend eternity learning more about him and growing in relationship with him. :)

Most English speakers only use 800 to 1,000 words in everyday conversation.

The average American college student knows 20,000 to 30,000 words. (Isn't our brain great?!)(And even if we can't remember the word we want to use when we need to use it…)

However, the 30,000 words are still only 2% of all the English words that exist. (How creative did God create us! This too is a reflection of his image.)

And when [the Lamb] had taken [the scroll], the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are WORTHY to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood you PURCHASED for God persons from every tribe and LANGUAGE and people and nation. You have made them to be a KINGDOM and PRIESTS to SERVE our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Rev. 5:8-12

 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

   to the glory of God the Father.

Fil. 2:9-11