LOVE OF THE TRUTH
by Archibald Alexander
"They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in
order to be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
I think it is John Newton who somewhere says that he
never knew any person who appeared to be actuated by a sincere love of the
truth, who did not come right after a while, however far off he might be
when he began to feel this motive operating. The case of Thomas Scott is a
remarkable illustration of this remark. When he commenced his correspondence
with Mr. Newton, he was a Socinian, and was solicitous to engage his
correspondent in a controversy on the points of difference. Mr. Newton,
however, while he avoided controversy, still entertained and expressed the
hope that Mr. Scott would come to a right belief, because he thought he
perceived in him a sincere desire to know the truth.
It seems to me that this is one of the first lessons
which they learn who are taught of God. The Holy Spirit, when he would lead
anyone to the saving knowledge of the truth, produces in him a spirit of
sincere and humble teachableness. The soul led by the Spirit thirsts for the
knowledge of the truth.
This is a very different thing from ardent attachment to
particular opinions which have been imbibed from education, or from the
connection with a particular sect. Such attachment cleaves to error as
tenaciously as to truth. A man may be willing to lay down his life in
defense of his opinions, and yet may be destitute of the love of truth.
The genuine love of truth makes its possessor willing to
relinquish his most cherished opinions as soon as it shall be satisfactorily
demonstrated that they are not true. The love of the truth renders a man not
only earnest in the pursuit of the beloved object, but impartial in his
judgment of evidence. He fears deception, and admits new opinions only after
the evidence has been thoroughly sifted and weighed.
This disposition is commonly accompanied with a deep
sense of our ignorance and liableness to error. The lover of truth cannot be
satisfied with mere plausible appearances, he must have solid ground to rest
upon; he therefore digs deep until he comes to a rock. And as the Holy Bible
is the treasure of divine truth, he searches the Scriptures daily to find
out what God has revealed. But conscious of his liableness to be misled by
ignorance or prejudice in interpreting the Scriptures, he is incessant in
his prayers for divine illumination. Such a one trusts little to his own
reason or human authority; he wants to hear what says the Lord. And those
who search for truth as for hidden treasure shall not be disappointed. There
is a gracious promise that if we seek--we shall find. "If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids
not, and it shall be given him."