The word "truth" is one of the commonest terms of all time. Of universal interest and concern, its discovery has been the quest of every age and race and clime. Teacher, philosopher, statesman, moralist, religionist—all use it, and practically all misuse it. Its comprehensiveness is amazing in scope and inexhaustible in depth. It will yield riches untold to all who earnestly seek its treasures.
But strange indeed are mankind's reactions thereto. The indispensable tool of the righteous, it is the plaything of the wicked. The joy and comfort of the saint, it is the offense and terror of the sinner, Constituting Heaven's great guiding gift to mankind, and partaking of God's very nature, it is the object of Satan's devilish hate and unrelenting attack. Sacred to the honest in heart, it is inexpressibly odious to the dishonest. Cherished by the wise, it is the sport of fools.
Civilizations, morals, religions, all are built upon truth, and divided by it. It is the storm center about which sin and righteousness revolve. But its meaning and intent are so often misunderstood, and its provisions are so constantly misapplied by both friend and foe, that it is well to scrutinize anew its comprehensiveness and its majesty, especially in its present-day aspects. Let us, then, to clarify our vision, review once more some of its characteristics, and rehearse yet again what it is, and what it is not.
Truth is Eternal. It is impervious to the ravages of time, being imperishable by nature. Not bounded by time, it does not expire by limitation. The eternal ages will require no revision, and will brook no abrogation. The eons to come will but disclose the abiding character of its luster, and testify to the permanence of its glory.
Truth is Complete. It is not partial, limited, or fragmentary, but perfect, full-orbed, symmetrical. Truth has no part lacking. And despite our inability to comprehend the fullness of its scope, each multiform phase is consistent with every other. Defective understanding just here is the cause of all fanaticism, which is the stressing of one aspect of truth without consideration of related and modifying phases.
Truth is Invulnerable. It cannot be overthrown. It is impervious alike to vicious assault of enemy and misguided blunder of friend. Seemingly crushed to earth, it is bound to rise again triumphant over every assailant. None need be apprehensive lest it perish from the earth.
Truth is Personalized. More than an abstract principle, it springs from and centers preeminently in Him who declared Himself to be the Truth incarnate, as well as the Way and the Life. Thus in the ultimate it is bound up with the very person of our Lord.
Truth is Illimitable. Its vastness extends infinitely beyond all confines foolishly erected by man. Eternity alone will reveal to the redeemed its measureless extent, constantly enthralling the ransomed with new aspects of its illimitable beauty and glory.
Truth is Expansive. Under study, research, and earnest pursuit, it unfolds to our understanding. But never can mortal man say he has compassed its boundaries or mastered all its principles and provisions. There is ever some undiscovered aspect beckoning us on. It will be our science throughout eternity.
Truth is Imperturbable. It does not become irritated under challenge, test, or investigation, either by champion or by critic—in the surety that it will ultimately prevail, that its claims will be vindicated, that its sovereignty will triumph in the end.
Truth is Fearless. It faces the universe with boldness. It invites pitiless scrutiny of its claims. It shrinks from no investigation, knowing that its postions are immutable and cannot be overthrown. It is the calm consciousness of this fact that nerves men even for the martyr's stake.
Truth is Candid. It never hedges, covers, or deceives, but is refreshingly open, transparently frank and fearless. This is the uniqueness and grandeur of truth, whereas error seeks to hide and suppress facts or factors, lest their disclosure bring confusion of face.
Truth is Living. It is not a dead creed or a lifeless formula. It is a living, vitalizing principle. Nay, more; it is the very thought of God expressed, and so is used in the Bible as a synonym of the Sacred Word itself.
Truth is Regulatory. It prescribes man's duty to man and his obligation to God, and so forms the basis of the judgment and all its issues. It is, in essence, the very nature and will of God expressed in codified form. It is consequently the heart of al the law and the prophets; in fact, it is God's chosen synonym for the moral law of the universe.
Truth is Gracious. It is not vindictive, but passes by the attacks of its assailants when they discover their error and confess their mistake. It never gloats over the blunder of an enemy and the retribution that follows. Instead, it hopes on and loves on, anticipating a reformation. Nor does it assail the misstep of a friend made in clumsy defense of truth. Always it is kind, patient, tactful.
Truth is Triumphant. Though sometimes seemingly defeated, retarded, perverted, it is destined soon to triumph gloriously and eternally over all opposing forces. Then woe to the hypocrites in Zion, the hosts of wicked rejecters in the world, and the minions of darkness that have their headquarters about this fallen sphere!
Truth is Liberating. It emancipates from the shackles of superstition, ignorance, and fear. It gives liberty to the soul, and supplies courage to the timid, satisfaction to the perplexed, and rest to the distracted. Error, on the contrary, creates a false hope and a fool's paradise, only to be followed by the anguish of bitter disillusionment, and ultimately the terrors of the damned.
Truth is Impartial. It has no favorites. It reveals itself alike to any and all who seek its acquaintance and friendship. High or low, rich or poor, all are alike its beneficiaries, irrespective of station, race, or sex. It meets the limitations and needs of the most degraded minds and races, as well as the capacities of the greatest intellects and civilizations. Free and bond, old and young, genius and dullard—all are alike recipients of its amazingly adaptable benefits.
Truth is Specific. It has particular emphasis or applications that are due at specific times, such as heralding the flood, the exodus, the restoration, the first advent, the Reformation, the judgment hour, the second advent. Men and movements of God's appointment discern these specific applications, and proclaim these special messages when they are due. That is why we, as a people and as an organized body ,of workers, exist today. Our task was pre-:pared for us. If we should be silent, the very .stones would cry out.
Truth is Divine, It is a revelation from heaven, not a devising of mortal man. It is a disclosure of God's will, purpose, and ways, not a creation of human ingenuity. We but perceive, discover, or formulate truth; we do not originate it. This should forever keep us humble.
Truth is Divisive. It never leaves a man where it found him. Once confronted with truth, he cannot be neutral; he must and does do something with it. When accepted, it often separates friends, kin, churches, denominations, and even nations. Thus it is that a man's foes are often those of his own household.
Truth is Unifying. It binds together the spirits of men who have caught a united vision of its beauty, its claims, and its sovereignty. It creates whole movements of people willing to face every hazard, who press on despite every disintegrating element that may arise. It is this that changes the very course and destiny of the world. It is this that makes the church invulnerable, weak and defective though it may be.
Truth is Intolerant. It demands acceptance of its mandates by every honest heart, and decrees eternal loss for willful rejecters of its recognized claims. It can tolerate no compromise, for that would mean chaos in an ordered universe.
Truth is Illuminating. It is a mighty light, dispelling the darkness occasioned by sin and the grave. Its penetrating beam clarifies the past, illuminates the present, and reveals the pathway through the future. It substitutes hope for despair, and brings courage out of cowardice. It dispels doubt and puts uncertainty to flight.
Truth is Exacting. It Will tolerate no compromises, no lowering of the colors that involves a principle. It asks the unconditional surrender of the heart to its sovereignty. Nothing less is acceptable.
Truth is Modest. It never struts or brags. It does not parade its excellencies. It has no egotistic, pompous air, no derision of those who differ, no sarcasm for dissenters. It is quiet, unassuming, modest, and always approachable.
Truth is Accurate. It does not indulge in loose statements or sweeping generalities, but is exact, faithful, and fair. It neither Overstates nor understates. It is the soul of veracity, the essence of accuracy. It never exaggerates or distorts, for God blesses only truth, not fiction.
Truth is Inexorable. No man can escape its claims. There is no place to which man can flee from its presence. In the secret consciousness of the soul, whether admitted or not, the truthfulness of truth is acknowledged, and the soul will be judged on the basis of that testimony, together with the relation of the soul to the truth admitted.
Truth is Spiritual. It is Vastly more than a code or a rule. It is an animating spirit that changes life's relationships. The third Person of the Godhead is Himself denominated the "Spirit of truth," who is to guide us into all truth. He is its life and motivating power. Therefore he who despises truth thereby insults the very Spirit of God. And he who rejects the Spirit of truth cuts himself off from salvation, for there remains no other way for God to reach the human soul. Lo, these are parts of thy ways, 0 Truth ! No mortal mind has comprehended thy fullness. No human pen has adequately pictured thy majesty. No earthly vision has discerned the full beauty and glory of thy power. We salute thee, and renew our allegiance to thee. We pledge again our affections to thee, and rededicate our lives as thy standard-bearers.
L. E. F.
