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WHAT IS TRUTH?

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 13, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 16.

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WHAT IS TRUTH?

By Charles P. Whitford

“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” This was the prayer of Jesus for his chosen ones; and he adds, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” Jesus therefore prayed to his Father that believers at the present time, as well as in past time, should be sanctified, not through the traditions and commandments of men, but the truth. It is in vain to talk of sanctification outside of the truth. How necessary it is then that we understand this very important and significant question, “What is truth?” in order that we may be sanctified through it, and be fitted up for translation. Some seem to think that the truth is of but little consequence, that they must fellowship almost everybody, even at the expense of the truth. They try to cultivate a good spirit, and pass along smoothly with apostates and hypocrites, without persecution and reproach for Christ’s sake. Tell us, are such in the straight and narrow way to life, where there are but few travelers? or are they with the many in the broad road to death? What we want is the truth, which brings freedom to the soul, and gives light and life. The psalmist, in describing the great day of the Lord, and the protection of the saints in that day, says, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” St. John, the beloved disciple who dwells so much on the subject of love, says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” Again he says, “I rejoice greatly, that I found of thy children walking in truth.”
Oh! how important it is that we know the truth, and after having obtained a knowledge of the same, have our hearts warmed by the love of God, so that we shall be willing to obey it, and thus be sanctified through it. It is a lamentable fact that the large mass of mankind have no disposition or ear to hear the word of God, but, thank Heaven, there are those who have an ear to hear the truth, and we say of such, “Let them hear.” Those whose hearts are not hardened in sin, who have not understandingly rejected the glad tidings of the coming kingdom, and who can feel the power of truth, “let them hear.” “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear” the truth and the whole truth. God forbid that we should lower the standard of truth to suit the unbelief of any one. Nothing short of plain truths, truths which demand humility, a letting go of the world and clinging to the Lord, will ever draw out the real children of the Lord, and separate the precious from the vile.
In view of the above we inquire, “What is present truth?” It is the great fact that we are living under the sounding of the third angel’s message of Rev. xiv, 9–12, which says, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation,” &c. From the solemn declaration of the third angel, we see that it is of the utmost importance that we clearly understand what the beast is, and what his image is, and what is his mark, and what constitutes his worship, in order that we may avoid their worship, and their mark, and escape drinking the wine of the wrath of God.
Would God put forth such a solemn declaration, attaching such a great penalty to be inflicted upon all who worship the beast and his image, and then leave us to guess what these things mean? Such a position would charge God with folly, and injustice. The clear truth most certainly exists on this point; and it is not only the privilege but the duty of all who profess to be God’s children, to search and ascertain the clear truth on this point. May the Lord help us to learn and know this truth, that we may live in accordance with it, and thus escape the storm of his indignant wrath that is about to burst with all the fury of a sin-avenging God, upon the heads of all who have the mark of the beast and his image.
If it is the truth that the third angel, of Rev. xiv, 9–12, is now saying, “If any man worship the beast and his image,” &c., and if it is the truth that this warning is for those to whom the message is given, and if we are not to be left in darkness in regard to what the beast and his image represent, may we not safely conclude that we who denominate ourselves Seventh-day Adventists, have the truth on this all-important subject? We believe that the observance of the first day of the week is to constitute the mark of the beast, when the line shall be drawn between the worshipers of the beast and his image, and the worshipers, or servants, of God. We believe that in the hour of final conflict, the time of trouble such as never was, when the mark of the beast shall be enforced, none will be able to stand, and bear the distinguishing sign or seal of God, only those who are sanctified through the whole truth, and are washed from all sin by the blood of Christ. May the Lord prepare those who profess to be living in accordance with the truths of the third angel’s message, to stand in that time, and bear the seal of the living God. After they keep all the commandments, and repent before God of past transgressions of his holy law, their only hope of salvation is through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus, that is able to cleanse from all sin. Christians who have conscientiously observed the first day of the week in time past, whose minds were never called to investigate the Sabbath question, certainly did not receive the mark of the beast. But after the true light on this subject shall be given, and that period of anguish when the mark of the beast shall be enforced shall have come, and the division made between the worshipers of God and the worshipers of the beast, then will be the danger of receiving the mark of the beast.
In view of that decisive hour, the third angel is now proclaiming his warning message, that we may be prepared to stand, and not receive the mark of the beast instead of the seal of the living God. It is evident that the proclamation of the message of the third angel is being attended with the special blessing of the Lord. This is no small evidence in favor of the correctness of our position; yet it would be extremely unsafe for us to settle down on this evidence alone, without being able to give from the Bible the reasons of our faith. Our only safe position is based upon the word of the Lord; and it is the duty of every brother and sister to search the Scriptures, and know the reasons of their faith. No means will be left untried to turn you from the truth. Every objection that can be raised against it you will doubtless hear sooner or later. And there is a scene of anguish before us that will try men’s souls, and will shake everything that can be shaken.
Brethren, let us have our feet upon the rock. Let us know why we believe. Stand fast; be strong, and always ready to give the reasons of our faith with meekness, and in the spirit of the gospel. It is not our work to judge or pass sentence upon any one. Some have greatly erred here. But let us speak “the truth” in the spirit of Jesus, with all boldness, and let that do its work upon the heart. I know that when we do this, we are at once judged as having a lack of charity, and of judging others. But we cannot stop here. Let others plead charity and we will preach the truth. True charity ever rejoiceth in the truth.
CHARLES P. WHITFORD.
Battle Creek, Mich.