SINCERITY

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Mar 15, 1887

How often do we hear it said when religious beliefs and doctrines are called in question, “It makes no difference if I am only sincere.” We never hear the expression used in any other than a religious sense. When traveling a road at right angles to the one which leads to our destination, or finding ourselves pursuing an opposite direction, we do not say when apprised of this, It makes no difference if we are only sincere. We would never be so foolish as that. We know that going east would not take us south, neither would going south take us north. If our way were questioned, it would not awaken the indifference of “sincerity” (?) but the anxiety of truth. Had we a dose of medicine to our lips, and some one should say it was poison, we would not say, It matters not if I am only sincere. We would become assured of the character of the medicine before we proceeded with it.

Why not be as wise in regard to the way which leads to eternal life? There is but one way—Jesus. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6. We can have forgiveness only through repentance toward God, whose law we have transgressed, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12; 20:21. We are sanctified through the truth (John 17:17); we are made free by the truth. John 8:32. We can only be Christ’s disciples by continuing in his word, and his word is truth. John 8:31; 17:17. This must include God’s holy law, for that is the truth. Ps. 119:142. And “no lie is of the truth.” Now can we willingly neglect one single portion of God’s practical truth, one duty, one sanctifying principle? If we are to be sanctified through the truth, if the truth is to make us free, if we are to worship God in the spirit and in the truth, can we willfully ignore that truth and still be sanctified, still be free, still worship God acceptably? If it is unwise to trust to our “sincerity” in the small matters of life, is it not heaven-daring presumption to ignore God’s way of saving men and still expect to be saved? Such an excuse as the above of sincerity may answer our conscience, but it will not answer at the bar of eternal judgment, where every man will be judged by his deeds. Sincerity is an excellent thing if one is sincere in the truth.—Present Truth.