Is Present Truth Essential?
By D. T. Bourdeau
We term present truth that truth which is especially applicable to the present time, and which relates to the immediate coming of Christ and a preparation to meet him. It may seem strange to some that we should propound such a question as this with reference to Bible truth. But our apology is that the force of truth is sometimes evaded by the idea that we should unite on the essentials. We claim there was to be a present truth in every age, especially at the close of each dispensation. In Noah’s time it was present truth that a flood was coming and that a special preparation was needed to meet it. It was the duty of Noah to preach this truth, and it was the duty of those who heard Noah to receive it; and for not receiving Noah’s testimony, the masses of the antediluvians perished in the waters of the flood. At the close of the Jewish dispensation, the present truth was that the Messiah was about to make his first advent, and that the people should prepare to receive him. John the Baptist was raised of God and filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim this message; and those who rejected it rejected the counsel of God against themselves. And we solemnly believe from the teachings of the Holy Scriptures that such will be the case at the close of the Christian dispensation, just before the second coming of Christ. And we claim that our faith is reasonable as well as scriptural. Christ will be as sacred and honorable when he comes the second time as he was when he came the first time. If it was necessary to proclaim his first coming, it will also be necessary to proclaim his second coming. And if a special preparation was required to meet him at his first advent, when a large door of mercy and hope was to be opened to the world by his life, death, and intercessions, will not a more special and thorough preparation be needed to meet him at his second advent, in connection with which human probation will close, and the final judgments of God shall fall upon a guilty world? And if the first advent was precious because that by it the foundation of our hope was to be laid, how shall we regard the second advent, which brings salvation in the final sense and the consummation of our hope? But if the message that is applicable to these times is uncalled for and nonessential, then we are forced to adopt the following conclusions:— It was not essential for inspired men to write the numerous prophecies relating to our times. Then we need not understand these prophecies, and they were written in vain and are unprofitable. Then the truthfulness of Christ is impeached when he promises to send his Spirit to guide into all truth and show of things to come, John 16:13, and when he declares that man shall live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:14. Then God deals in nonessentials, and man’s judgment is above that of his Creator, and man has a right to set aside a large proportion of the word of God. Then it is unnecessary to proclaim the coming of Christ when he is near, and to tremble when the day of the Lord is at hand. Joel 2:1. We need not know when Christ is near even at the doors; Matt. 24:33; or watch lest he come upon us as a thief; Rev. 3:3; 1 Thes. 5:4, etc.; or be sober when the end of all things is at hand; 1 Pet. 4:7; or seek meekness and righteousness when the great day of the Lord hasteth greatly. Zeph. 1:14; 2:1–3. Then the keeping of all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus is a matter of minor importance; and should not be mentioned at all. Rev. 14:12. Then we need not grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, 2 Pet. 3:18, and be wholly sanctified and preserved blameless unto the coming of Christ, 1 Thess. 5:23; and when Bible knowledge increases, and additional light shines on our pathway, Dan. 12:4, 10, we may turn away from God’s blessings, and repay him for his goodness by not walking in the light. Or, perhaps, we may conclude that God has given us more rays of divine light than we need to guide us in this dark world. Then it was unnecessary for the sins of the last days to be pointed out and reproved in prophecy, 2 Tim. 3, etc., that the people might reform; and while it was right in past ages to warn cities and nations of coming judgments, now that the unmingled wrath of God is about to fall on the ungodly, a warning is uncalled for. If present truth is nonessential, we need not understand the perils of the last days as described in prophecy that we may be better prepared to meet them; we need not show our love to Christ by longing to see him. Rev. 22:20. And if these conclusions are adopted as a commendable rule of conduct, then why not conclude that Noah and John the Baptist engaged in a superfluous work; for similar circumstances demand a similar course of action. Then Noah need not have been so definite in his preaching. He might have accommodated himself to the unbelief of his hearers, and there was no necessity of his building an ark. Such a course would have suited his hearers, and proved the ruin of the whole race. And most of the Jews at Christ’s first advent would have been highly pleased with John had he been less definite in reproving sin, and had he proclaimed the coming of a Messiah adapted to flatter their national pride. But in pursuing this course, he would have failed to prepare a people to meet and receive the true Messiah. If present truth is composed of nonessentials, then the evil servant who said, “My lord delayeth his coming,” and opposed those who proclaimed the advent near, acted the part of wisdom, and the wise and faithful servant who gave the household of faith “meat in due season,” was the one who should have received censure. Matt. 24, 45–51. Then the scoffers who were to arise in the last days and scoff at the idea of Christ’s immediate coming, should scoff on, 2 Pet. 3:1, etc.; for that idea is nonessential. Men may eat, drink, and be drunken with the cares of this life, as in the days of Noah. The church has no reason to rejoice when their redemption draws nigh, when their friends who sleep in Jesus are to be restored to them, and all the saints of all ages are about to receive the gift of immortality, and be saved from temptation, the fear of death, and from all that would mar their perfect bliss. Luke 21:28; 1 Thess. 4:16–18; 1 Cor. 15:51–55. And if it is extravagant and nonessential to go and meet the Bridegroom when he is near, Matt. 25, then angels erred and were extravagant when they came to earth and rejoiced in announcing his first advent; and all the angels of Heaven will make a great mistake when they escort him in grand display on his way to earth at his second advent. Dear reader, can you indorse all these conclusions that force themselves upon us in claiming that present truth is nonessential?