Let me share some interesting thoughts about languages. Did you know that the Scots have 421 different Scottish Gaelic snow-related words? The school kids only need to know one: “Tomorrow is a Snow Day!”

The country with the most official languages is Zimbabwe. They have 16 separate languages spoken by just 15 million people. Can you imagine the hassle of printing all the official governmental documents?

Overall, I wasn’t really surprised to read that there are just over 7000 different languages in the world today. But I was amazed to learn that about 40% of those languages are endangered because so few people actually speak them. Apparently about 9 languages go extinct every year.

Whatever the actual count of languages, they will all be represented in Heaven. In Revelation 7:9, we are told that there was a great multitude that no one could count. And those standing there before the Lord came from every nation, tribe, people, and language. What an amazing crowd that will be.

And there is one language that will never go extinct, and that is the heart language that Jesus speaks and understands. On earth, He spoke Aramaic (an everyday offshoot of Hebrew). In heaven, I am not sure what dialect He will use. But I know we will recognize it.

 In John 10, He is describing the relationship He has with His people. Calling us sheep and referring to Himself as the Good Shepherd, He remarks that we know His voice and respond to Him. In truth, He speaks our language.

He not only speaks our cognitive language, but He also speaks our personal language. He knows when we are just groaning and need to be interpreted. He knows when words fail us. He can read our tone, our face and our heart. “I know my sheep and they know me!”

So, the next time you hear a language being spoken that isn’t your native tongue, think about that passage in Revelation and look forward to our time together before the throne.

And the next time your heart is breaking, and words just come tumbling out, be assured He is listening and He gets you.

I Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are in the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers…” (ESV)

…regardless of the language used!