12. TRUTH
Henry Law
"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."—John 14:6Truth next invites attention. The very term commands respect. At once it calls for reverence. It is a noble plant; but it is not indigenous to earth. Here ignorance and fallacies, and falsehoods are the wide-spreading weeds. Truth lived at first, but it was soon slain by sin. Then untruthfulness came in—"You shall not surely die." (Gen. 3:4) Multitudinous has been its progeny.
The history of this earth presents a frightful picture of the miseries which follow in the rear of falsehood. It extinguished light, and darkness cast its wretched pall around. It banished peace. It raised a barrier between God and man. It barred the gates of heaven. It constructed the prison-walls of hell, and kindled its unextinguishable flames.
But Christ came, the remedy of all evil. As such, He re-established the reign of Truth, and shines as its perfect embodiment. Let us bow before His proclamation, "I am the Truth." This subject is most large. It presents expansive views, and extends through Creation's wonders and Revelation's glory. Let thought glean profit in each field.
I. When Creation's beauties were arranged, it seems that Christ was the deep signification of the work. Statements are distinctly made, as hints to be expanded into fuller intelligence. Thus those who read Nature's book, looking for Christ, perpetually find feasts of joy. At every turn they see objects which reveal the Lord. Here indeed erratic fancies must be checked, and due bounds must restrain imagination's flights. But it is both duty and delight to follow where the Spirit leads, and He plainly tells that Christ is the true end of our earth's fabric. Let a few instances guide to this improvement of things visible.
Light shines the earliest wonder of the world. Who can depict its beauties and its properties! But it is more than nature's charm and earth's benefit. It is a treasure of Gospel-truth. Its lovely rays show the more lovely image of the Lord. It is written, "That was the true light which enlightens every man who comes into the world." (John 1:9) Jesus, also, selecting it as a typical mirror, cries, "I am the light of the world: he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) The prophet, anticipating the rising of the true "Dayspring from on high," sweetly sings, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." (Isa. 9:2) Thus from early morn to evening's close we are encompassed by an atmosphere, the Truth of which is Christ.
Again—our meals require the staff of life. Costly viands may abound. Luxuries may be multiplied by culinary art. But if bread be absent, the food is incomplete. Thus bread is an essential article at our tables. But it affords much more than nourishment. While we eat we gain instruction. It is an emblem of our Lord. His own lips declare, "My Father gives you the true bread from heaven." (John 6:32) Thus whenever we receive this necessary nutriment, our souls should see and feast on Jesus. He adds, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven." (John 6:51) And again, "I am the bread of life." (John 6:35) Thus the lifeless material proclaims the Savior, who is alive forevermore. (Rev. 1:18) Material bread not only sustains life—it sets Him forth who quickens the soul with never-ending life. Our tables would be sanctifying schools, if in the main nutriment Christ was discovered. Animal life indeed would thrive, and spiritual vigor be replenished.
Again—in rural scenes the vine is often present to our view. It is not limited to the glassy shelter of the rich man's home. It spreads its far extending tendrils and its luxuriant clusters around the humblest dwellings. Its stem indeed is lowly, and shows no form, nor strength, nor beauty. But it abounds in branches of extensive growth. Each branch is laden with rich clusters, and each cluster swells with grapes, and each grape is bursting with delicious juice. What plant then can compete in value! As Jesus walks attended by his chosen band, this plant attracts His notice. Quickly He deduces a spiritual lesson. He exclaims, "I am the true Vine." (John 15:1) The plant was an emblem of the blessings which He came to give. Whenever the vine is viewed, let pious thought ascend to Christ.
It belongs not to this design to trace at length the full similitude. Let it suffice to note most briefly that the lowly stem prefigures the lowly birth, the lowly life, the lowly walk of Jesus. No pomp, no show, dazzled the eyes of men. He grew up "before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground." (Isa. 53:2) He did not "cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street." (Isa. 42:2) But His preciousness surpasses thought. All eloquence is dumb before such theme. His fruit exceeds all praises. Well might the Church exclaim, "I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste." (Song 2:3)
Behold His death! It is the atonement of all the sins of all who trust in Him; it pours forth the richest exuberance of peace. What multitudes extract from it transporting sense of pardon for each offence, expiation of all iniquity, reconciliation with God, cleansing from all vile stains, adoption into the heavenly household, all peace, joy unspeakable and full of glory, and hope of the inheritance of the saints in light! Survey the countless multitudes of the redeemed. Mark their rapture, listen to their endless hymns. All their ecstacy is derived from the fruit of Christ the true Vine.
Mark, also, its expanding boughs. Verily they traverse the universe. Where man lives, the vine presents its reviving clusters. Wherever the vine claims notice, or the mantling goblet invites taste, let thought ascend to Christ, and feast on the delights of all His benefits.
Thus significantly the blessed Jesus points to objects in creation's field, as showing some especial picture of Himself. He intimates that they unfold the volumes of His worth. Behold the light, the bread, the vine—they are but shadows: the substance is in Him. He is the true light, the true bread, the true vine. Their Truth is Christ.
These instances supply a clue for wide investigation. They lead to a fertile field, and unlock the gate. They place the foundation for much superstructure. They teach that Christ is the Truth of Creation's book. Thus, in rambles through the verdant fields, by the flowing stream, beside the babbling brook, in uplands, in the valley—thus, when summer glows, when wintry frosts invest the scene with snow—we are encouraged to search for exhibitions of Gospel-truth. There is much spiritual delight in this constant looking for Him who is "chief among ten thousand and altogether lovely One!" (Song 5:10-16) There is sweet rapture in these discoveries of His image! Thus things terrestrial help the believer to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, whom to see is heaven begun.
II. But it is in Scripture's page that Christ shines forth in glorious brightness as "the Truth." He guides to this conclusion. "Search the Scriptures, for in them you think have eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me." (John 5:39) To the disciples journeying to Emmaus, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." (Luke 24:27) Hence we know that all the Scriptures abound in disclosures of Him as "the Truth." It pleased God that through the Church's infancy teaching should be much in partial show. Pictures, signs, and shadows, passed in long train before the early fathers. But in them the substance was not fully unveiled. The Truth of each was Christ; but He was seen through long vista.
Among the types the foremost place is justly given to sacrifice. It is the first-born of this school. Its birth was concurrent with sin's entrance. In Eden's garden the first victim bled. The coats of skins which clothed our parents when they were cast out into a dreary world, is clear proof. These victims died prefiguring the Woman's Seed who would bruise the serpent's head. From that time until the Cross of Calvary, how many altars were upraised! What streams of blood flowed in unceasing current! How often did the priest lift up the sacrificing knife! No morning dawned, no evening closed, unmarked by sacrificial type. But from every victim a distinct voice was heard. It cried, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Every death on every altar pointed to Him who in the fullness of time should die to atone for sin. Of every sacrificial victim Christ was the Truth. Needless would have been the expenditure of life, except each death had been herald of the coming Savior. But the bleeding victim was only one in a vast volume of instruction, one link in a long chain, one tree in a forest of spiritual lessons.
Let the wanderings in the wilderness be surveyed. In long array Christ was proclaimed by some types. With morning light in the dew the manna fell. It gave supplies of food; the tribes had only to gather and to eat. But its main value was its spiritual import. In diverse ways it showed forth Christ. He was its Truth. It fell to image "the true bread."
Again, the smitten rock sent forth a stream always flowing in their rear. The tribes had not to toil in digging wells, or in long search for springs. "They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." (1 Cor. 10:4) He was the Truth of this unfailing water.
Amid all the wilderness-types the brazen serpent claims prominence. Israel's sons were in deep misery. As a punishment for their grievous sins, fiery serpents darted through the camp inflicting deadly stings. God removed not the plague, but He commanded Moses to raise a brazen serpent on a pole. To 'calculating reason' this would seem to be a mockery of their woe. What healing virtue could issue from this figure! But God ordained that whenever a bitten Israelite fixed his eye upon this form, the poison would cease to act, the sting would abate, and health return. But more than bodily recovery was here. Jesus Himself declares that of this type He is the Truth. Marvelous are His words, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:14, 15) What hearty thanksgivings should this type call forth! What multitudes in every age have been led by its teaching to turn the eye of faith to Christ its Truth, and thus to win eternal life!
How prominent in Israel's story was the High Priest! View his splendid robes. Examine each part of his significant apparel. See on his heart and on his shoulders the names of the twelve tribes. Mark his passing the veil, and entering into the Holy of Holies, not without blood, and burning incense in the sacred place, and sprinkling the mercy-seat, and returning to give blessings to the people. The Truth of every part of this dazzling appearance is Christ. He came, "a High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Heb. 9:11, 12) How precious, how enlightening, how cheering, is the Old Testament record, when in every sign, and semblance, and type, we see the glorious Person, and the gracious acts of Christ, the Truth!
But Jesus is pre-eminently the Truth, as the grand revelation of the Father. Apart from Jesus, God's face is hidden; more than Egyptian darkness conceals Him. Mists and impenetrable gloom envelop His character, His purposes, and will. The sages of old, boasted much mental culture. Vast were the resources of their intellect. They probed science to its core. But the world by wisdom knew not the true God. (1 Cor. 1:21) When Jesus came, the darkness passed, and "the true light" shone brightly. Hence the Spirit gives Him the designation, "the faithful and true Witness." Hence the Apostle was guided to pen, "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6) So that He truly says, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:9)
How precious is this Savior! With what intense desire should we study Him! He is the true mirror which reflects the Father's glory. He is the true volume, in which we read, as in the light of heaven, the Father's attributes, and see as in a collected focus, His righteousness, His justice, His holiness, His love. Thanks be to God for this manifested Truth!
Has Truth thus come down from heaven to earth, and shall not men most diligently, most earnestly search for it! Shall they not employ their time in seeking to be possessors of this treasure! It enriches for time and for eternity. It is useful for every moment, and in every state. It makes free from every bondage, and from all debasing ignorance.
It is sown in the field of Scripture. Let no day pass without deep digging in this mine. Dig, also, with wrestling prayer for the Spirit's aid. "O Lord, send out Your light and Your Truth; let them lead me." (Psa. 43:3) Let the love of the Truth reign in our hearts. Sweet is the exhortation of the prophet, "Love the Truth and peace." (Zech. 8:19) Fearful is the doom against those who "received not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thess. 2:10)
Who can resist the charms of Truth! It contains every attraction to awaken and to rivet affection. Especially let us walk in Truth. It is a solemn injunction, "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." (Col. 2:6) The Apostle had no greater joy than to hear that his children walked in Truth. Christ should be the Truth on which the eye should ever gaze, the way by which our feet should move, the arm on which we should lean coming up out of the wilderness. Thus earth will be an infallible passage to the bright world, in which unclouded Truth forever shines.