For The Truth's Sake

by J. Miller | Category: Voices From The Past - Extracted From Jottings Vol.1 | Jun 1979

John, in his second and third epistles, gives a very important place to "the truth", and uses such terms as: "They that know the truth"; "For the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever"; "Walking in the truth"; "Fellow-workers with the truth". The closing years of the first century were times in which false teaching abounded. Many had gone out from the Fellowship, whom John describes as deceivers, who sought to lead astray those who would hear them. They were days of difficulty for the house of God, which is pillar and ground of the truth.

It was a real joy to John to hear from those itinerating brethren concerning the truth of Gaius, and how he walked in truth, and of the good work in which he was engaged. And John says: "Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth".

In these days the salvation of sinners is raised to such an eminence that the obedience and conduct of those who are saved is almost lost sight of. This leads one to inquire whether John was in the mind of God when he wrote about the joy he had when his children walked in truth, or, could he possibly be mistaken in saying that he had no greater joy? If John had God's mind about this matter, then it is no small matter that we should get to know the truth, so that we may walk in it, and, being found in it, do all that is possible to us to be fellow-workers with the truth.

Truth is eternal and imperishable; nothing is of value that is not founded on it and that does not emanate from it; so that if the truth abideth in us, it shall be with us for ever.

While some know the truth, it is gravely possible to be always learning, and never be able to come to the knowledge of the truth; it is such who resist the truth (2 Tim. 3:7,8). This knowledge is, nevertheless, part of the will of God, "who willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).

It is said of love that it "rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth" (1 Cor. 13:6); so that the truth is not the harsh, hard thing that some would seek to make it, for it is seen in the sweetness of company, rejoicing with love. Such are some of the things that are said about the truth.

J. Miller | Jun 1979
Voices From The Past - Extracted From Jottings Vol.1