That Men May Know. . .

I dare say we scarcely consider how frail life truly is. We are more apt to be like the rich man in Luke 12 who vainly trusted that fulness of days are guaranteed. Jesus regarded him as a fool who knew not that the very night ahead he would be visited by death and then what would follow. W e live as though many days are promised! However, "Man that born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." (Job 14:1)

Likewise, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14) There is not one who by some resource of self may escape the reality of the frailty of life. Perhaps loss of one close to you in recent days has served as a reminder of this truth. In light of this "vapour" which is life, how sad to watch so much labor of men, and to what end? "For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36) Our days are numbered, our end is marked! What shall be in the hereafter? That Men May Know

First things first! In the construction of a new house, work does not begin first on the roof. It is of course necessary to first lay the foundation which will serve as the base and support of the structure. The foundation must be sure for it is indispensable to the stability and longevity of the structure. Likewise, indispensable to my theme, ("That Men May Know") is truth. As a structure is of no true value and unsafe apart from a solid foundation, so is knowledge apart from truth. Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free". (John 8:32)

I would argue that identification of the origin or source of what is known or believed determines if it is truth or error. What is believed not only affects how one lives in this life but also the final result of that belief (or otherwise stated UNBELIEF) marks the soul for eternity. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

Truth or error is marked by its source!! Knowledge from God is always truth! You can rest assured in the "immutability of His counsel" (Hebrews 6:17). God cannot but be truthful because God is truth. "God is not a man, that should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" (Titus 1:1,2) On the other hand, knowledge from satan is always error! "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44) "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world:" (Revelation 12:9)

Having then identified God as the source of all truth, it is important to realize that He has ordained three means by which truth may be known. First, the Lord Jesus Christ is the "well" from which men may drink to satisfy their thirst for truth. In Christ encounter with the woman at the well in John chapter four, He declared to her that, "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life". (John 4:14) What is this water that He here refers to? Is it not truth? The woman desired the water evidenced by her request in verse 15; "The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not". In response to her request He gave her truth. The truth about her sinful condition (4:16-18) and the truth about His saving power (4:25-26)!!! When men come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the thirst for truth is satisfied. Amen! Not religion mind you, for religion is no guarantee of truth. "Having a form of godliness (religious), but denying the power thereof (truth): from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts, Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Timothy 3:5-7) According to the word of God, these are the times which will mark the last days leading up to the coming of Christ. Hear the words of II Peter 2:17 where false teachers are called "wells without water". By description they are void of truth and therefore an incapable source where thirsting souls can be satisfied. Christ however, satisfies! "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

The second means whereby truth can be known is the Holy Spirit. I do not take for granted nor presume that everyone is thirsting for truth. In fact the opposite is true. Truth is light which exposes sin. As dirt or dust is often not detected until exposed by the rays of the sun, so sin and evil in the life goes undisturbed until the light of truth causes it to surface. This will not create thirst apart from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:19-20) It is the Spirit that creates thirst in men for the truth and it is also the Spirit that leads to the "well" (Jesus Christ) where that thirst may be satisfied. The Holy Spirit is the promise of Christ which guarantees an understanding of the truth revealed in God's Son. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth:" (John 14:16-17a) "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13) As truth has no other source than in Christ, so understanding of that truth has no other source than in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Given the state of man as being "dead in trespasses and in sins" (Ephesians 2:1), it is not possible that he should naturally understand nor receive truth. He cannot receive it; "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:"; nor can he understand it; "neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Thank God fort the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who "shews" us Christ (John 16:14), Who "enlightens the eyes of our understanding" (Ephesians 1:18), Who delivers us "from the power of darkness" and translates us "into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13), Who gives us repentance "to the acknowledging of the truth" (II Timothy 2:25), and Who seals us "until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The third means whereby truth can be known is the Word of God. The Spirit of God has fulfilled His purpose of John 16:13! The written Word of God is the final ordained means of knowing truth. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1:20-21) " And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:15-17) Men are called, converted, and completed through the truth of God's word by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In conclusion, I ask if you are sure of the foundation upon which you rest today?Will you believe truth or reject it? "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables". (II Timothy 4:1-4) There is a foundation upon which you may rest firm today. The foundation of the scriptures; "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation of the Saviour; "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:11). The foundation of the Spirit; "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." (II Timothy 2:19). "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9) Are you building your house upon a rock or upon the sand? (Matthew 7:24-27) Truth or error is the difference between it "falling not" (25) and "great was the fall of it" (27). "That Men May Know"