p. 99 | Present Truth by Ivory Colcord

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1873

Present Truth.

By Ivory Colcord

TRUTH stands opposed to two nearly allied and closely connected opposites; viz., error and falsehood. In a strict technical sense an error is a falsehood, and a falsehood, an aggravated error; and both are diametrically the opposite of truth; while, between the two, in an accommodated, i. e., the common, latterly accepted, sense, there is quite a wide difference.

A falsehood is an open violation of veracious principles; an intended mis-statement; but as held in our day, an error is a creature of spontaneous growth, without cause or parentage; one of nature’s mistakes, and though consequences of a serious nature result from a tenaciously held, and widely diffused, untruth, no responsibility dare attach to him, through whose influence scores are wrecked, because conscience dictates no necessary change, and through stupid indifference and blinding prejudice no error nor trace of an injudicious course can be discovered. Thus is the wise prompting of an uneducated conscience smothered, becomes unreliable, a blind guide, a flattering enemy, and fatally dangerous in its dictation, because truth does not enter into and form the basis of its education. It is of vital importance that we should in all things, both of minor and of greater importance, study closely all the surroundings, analyze critically all the parts, and, this done, we should at once cast aside error, and with David proceed to display our banner “because of the truth.” Ours is a day of great dearth; a day in which Isaiah’s language seems to be fulfilling; when “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth.” There is a “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.” It is notorious of this age, and but the slightest use of the perceptive organs will prove the fact, that all that is necessary to become the world’s prey, a target for depraved humanity is to depart from evil, renounce error, and pick up the fragments of truth that have “fallen in the street.” There are few who “plead for truth.” Something pleasing is desirable. “None call for justice;” consequently it “standeth afar off.” And why? Because “truth faileth.”

Then is it not worthy of an effort to “Buy the truth,” when we can find the genuine article “and sell it not?” All truth is important and has its benefits. Some truths take their place in history and serve as examples to guide our acts as we pass along through life. As examples of this class of truths we might cite many; but a few will do as well. It is truth that Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son as an offering. This truth was not recorded and given to us that we should learn to sacrifice our children as did the Ammonites to Moloch; but that we by means of this historic narrative might learn a substantial lesson in faith, confidence, and obedience. Abraham had faith that the command was from the highest authority. He was confident that all would be right in the end and his son Isaac was willingly obedient.

The biography of Job is given us that we may learn the great lesson of patience. From the lives of queens Vashti and Esther, our good wives may learn the evil consequences which arise from disregarding the lesson which Paul directly teaches and which might be studied with profit just now when the doctrine of female supremacy is so lavishly dealt out from rostrum and fireside. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira is but a matter of history, yet it teaches that those who disregard the truth must expect to suffer the consequences. Then we have prophetic truth which is our landmark by the way. It is the traveler’s guide-board. It points out our course, and defines our present position in the world’s history. Aside from this, John’s prophetic description of the great and final battle contains nothing of very great moment to us of 1873.

But there is a truth with which all of us are especially connected, and in which we are interested to a greater degree than in any other. It is what Peter terms “the present truth.” It is not difficult to find people who scout the idea of a present truth; they say that all truth, both historic and prophetic, is as much present truth as is that of any passing event; that what was true a thousand years ago is still truth—truth at the present time—therefore, present truth. But their reasoning is evidently illogical; for that fact only is present truth which will allow of the present tense in its narration. Instance: One hundred years ago it was proper to say, Geo. Washington is commander-in-chief of the American army. That can not be truthfully said to-day; therefore it is not present truth. In time to come it may perhaps be said, The national debt is paid. That can not be said now; therefore it is not present truth, though it may now be a truth for a future day.

But the reason that objection is offered to this distinction of truths is quite apparent. Present truth calls for action now. Present events must be taken up and acted upon while passing, or they are gone forever. While, if we are permitted to arrange truths promiscuously, without regard to time, they can be applied to our day when such an arrangement is convenient, and hustled into the past or future at pleasure, if not desirable. When the promise of the “seed time and harvest” is mentioned, they believe that is a promise to us; but, if perchance the prophecy of Joel, concerning the canker-worm and caterpillar is believed to belong to us also, they emphatically object to such insane interpretations of prophecy. And why? Simply because their likes and dislikes must be humored, if the force of all truth is destroyed in consequence.

If people would but let good reason and sound judgments reign in these matters, as they do in their daily vocations, they would take up the truths that demand attention now, the present truths, act upon them with a will, and not cling to them forever because they love all that is connected with their fulfillment, but drop them gently into the lap of history and be promptly ready to accept of prophecy as it becomes present truth, heartily believing and indorsing it as such, then truth would not fail from the land, neither would it “fall in the streets.” And if it were in their hearts “to plead for truth,” they would also “call for justice,” and as a legitimate result, equity would enter and constitute a leading and noble feature of our lives. IVORY COLCORD.