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The Divine Guide

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 57.

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The Divine Guide

By Allen Moon

ALLEN MOON
Jesus the Son of God said of himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He was the exemplification of the way that had been provided,—the way brought to light through Moses and the prophets, whose words the Son had inspired. He was the truth regarding the way of life; he was the fountain of truth. To all mankind he was the life, and by following the way of life revealed by him and in him, all might attain to the life that was in him. He was an infallible guide in all that pertained to the realm of divine truth.
When about to depart from earth, the Son of God made it known that provision had been made for a substitute, in the person of the Holy Spirit, who was to come from heaven to earth, and to remain. Although the Spirit is invisible, yet to those who receive him “as seeing him who is invisible,” he becomes all that the Son himself would be.
Jesus said, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13. Like the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is not limited in knowledge; “for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:10.
In the very nature of things, the Saviour’s promise of the guidance of the Spirit cannot be of universal application, for not all men love truth. Not all are going the way of truth, not all can realize the need of a guide; even as it is written, “The Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him.” John 14:17. They cannot receive, neither can they know, the divine Spirit, because he is not perceived by the natural senses. Not even the princely among them everknew him, and therefore they were ignorant of all the deep things he had power to make them know. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” 1 Cor. 2:9, 10.
The Spirit of truth, in revealing truth to man, is not dependent on man’s natural senses, but reaches him through the inner man by his own means. But so effective is his work that Paul, one who was under the guidance of the Spirit, said: “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.” 1 Cor. 2:7. God ordained, or appointed, the Spirit’s office work. This resulted in glory to the apostles and prophets, who consecrated themselves to God for service so completely that the Spirit could put them in possession of this hidden wisdom, and enable them to speak it in accordance with the Spirit’s revealing.
The work of the Holy Spirit in revealing truth is performed for the individual, and not for families or churches collectively. All God’s effort on man’s behalf is for the individual. So the Lord said: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” John 3:36. God’s promises are to the believers. His Spirit will guide his believing children. He cannot guide the unwilling, even though they may be identified with his people.
God has provided only one sure guide for his children. That guide is the Spirit of truth, and the Word of truth, which is the Word of God. These two agree in one. The Saviour said of the Spirit which he would send: “He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 16:13, 14. The Son of God is the word, or expression, of God. The Spirit searches for the deep things of God at the mouth of the Son; hence the words of the Saviour, “He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.” The things to come which he shows to his children, are first spoken by the Son. Thus the Spirit of truth continues the work begun by the Son of God for his children on earth.
The early church of Christ relied only upon this sure and safe guide. Since that time the church has been beset by many would-be guides in human form. Some of these have claimed infallibility, and others have claimed the possession of various gifts of the Spirit; but all were in conflict with the word of truth, which is a sure evidence that they themselves were not following the divine Guide.
The Holy Spirit uses agencies in the accomplishment of his work. He makes use of human agents, and we are admonished to esteem them highly for their works’ sake. But though used by the heavenly Guide, these servants are only human.
David, one of the most famous of the Spirit’s agents, said, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” 2 Sam. 23:2. David did not claim to have spoken for God, but the Spirit of the Lord spoke, using lips of clay. David’s will had been surrendered, and he was in the Spirit’s hands for service. He was the instrument for the Spirit’s work.
Other men of note, as Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Solomon, were instruments through whom an infallible and enduring work was accomplished by the Spirit of Christ, which was in them. But no infallibility attached to the instrument used. He might fall away and become false, as was the case with Solomon, who, although honored by the Lord, turned aside from following the true Guide. Paul said: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ,” but nowhere in the Word of God does he instruct his children to look to any man as a guide in divine truth.
Takoma Park, D. C.