p. 5 | Living the Truth by Philip Giddings

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 31, 1912

Living the Truth

By Philip Giddings

PHILIP GIDDINGS

LIFE, so silent and invisible in its operations, works out a demonstration before which controversy is dumb; for the simple reason that men may gainsay your teachings, may combat word with word, may question your thesis,—but when they see the exegesis standing out in living character, there is nothing to argue against. It can not be contradicted any more than the fact that the sun shines can be contradicted. “And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”

It is remarkable how a tender, frail shoot coming up from the earth will push aside a weight many times heavier than itself. The story of the infidel princess who ordered her tomb made so strong as to defy the trump of God breaking it open at the last day, affords a forceful illustration of the power of life to convince if not convert the most stony stubbornness of the human head and heart, when the little seed which dropped between some stones took root, and growing up silently, burst asunder that infidel’s fortress.

The incident is related of a master who, on dying, called in his servant John to read and pray for him. John, wondering, suggested to call instead the minister. “O, no!” said the dying man, “we have been friends and associates in the things of this world only; but this is higher business. John, and he won’t do. I have noticed you; although my servant, you stand in a higher relationship to this most important affair. John, I believe in your God and your religion. You pray.” How persuasive is the influence of the upward life!

If “actions speak louder than words,” then he who walks in the paths of righteousness is better heard than he who talks thereof. Some one has said that the sermons that are best heard are those seen.

“The world will be convinced not by what the pulpit teaches, but by what the church lives. The minister in the desk announces the theory of the gospel; the practical piety of the church demonstrates its power.” The loud cry will not come from the pulpit alone, for there are several pews to every pulpit, and many more in each pew than in the pulpit.

Are not the membership-pew-sitters, who have been plucked as brands from the burning and have been lighted with the Holy Ghost and with fire, to live such lives in all holy conversation and conduct as will declare and impress the fact that “the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”? These are plucked firebrands rekindled to be a shining as well as a burning light. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” And those who are lighted with the true light will so shine in their lives; for “the life was the light of men,” and the light given man is the life.

An Israelite indeed is an Israelite in deed. There is no guile in him,—no inner guilt nor outer gilding; no brass nor copper; no gold-washed nor silver-plated pewter.

That holy-day religion at church that during the week takes a holiday from performing its promises made in songs, sermons, prayers, and amens; that goes to “service” that is never put to service; that talks up New Jerusalem, and then walks down old Jericho, is idle, hollow noise, and simply furnishes the ungodly with occasion for blasphemy against God.

What does it profit, my brethren, though a man chant the eighth commandment,—“Thou shalt not steal,”—and steals the Lord’s tithe, or steals his employer’s time by skulking, or his goods by misappropriation or neglect? What though he can say that commandment from memory, and conveniently forgets that long-standing loan? “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again.” Ps. 37: 21. “Owe no man anything.” Rom. 13: 8.

There are many bad bookkeepers. Their books do not balance, for they keep only one side—the debit. One-leggedly, they are hobbling on—whereto? “A good report of them which are without” is an excellent certificate of the efficacy of acted sermons in the open air,—living epistles seen and read of all men, not in lettered ink, but in living characters by the blood on life’s canvas.

And the root of such fruit is “Christ within,” who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”—not, “I have the truth,” objectively, but I am it, subjectively. Some have the truth in the head as they have money in their purse,—it is no part of themselves,—or as a dyspeptic

has a load in his stomach. Until the food is digested and assimilated, it can not be changed into life. Truth must be assimilated if its fruit is to be seen in the life.

“In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto the Lord; and the pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 14: 20, 21.

There is a difference between “pots” and “bowls.” One is of the kitchen, sooty; the other is kept bright and honored for the dining-table. But with the Lord’s household utensils, the pots shall be like the bowls before the altar, for holiness. Whether it be outside pot-service or inside bowl-service before the altar, the same impression must be maintained.

“Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah.” Not only such as may be particularly set apart, but even lay members, shall be holiness to the Lord, doing service. And the vessel, pot, may be symbolic of humble daily living. “Every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah” is so dedicated for the Lord’s service that “they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein.” The life of the humblest member has its part in the gospel plan.