As I watched brothers and sisters spreading the gospel across the globe, I found myself reflecting on language. How many languages are there in the world? It is said that there are roughly 7,100. But the number I have in mind is about 8 billion—the population of the world.
Each person speaks from a unique life shaped by their own experiences, values, and inner world. Even in the same situation, people often arrive at different conclusions. A single word or phrase can be interpreted in countless ways depending on who hears it, just as each person has their own way of expressing thoughts and emotions. Because we all communicate from such diverse perspectives, truly understanding one another is never simple. That’s why learning another’s “language”—not just their words, but their heart, their outlook, and their way of seeing the world—is so essential.
In this light, the journey of the gospel can be seen as a path toward narrowing the world’s 8 billion languages into one: the language of heaven, remembered only by God. It is a language spoken not in mere words, but in love, consideration, humility, and gentleness. As we each strive to learn this heavenly tongue, may we break down the barriers of our own languages, become one in heart, and walk together into the eternal kingdom.