THERE is an immense difference between knowing a person and merely knowing about him. True, very much maybe known about a person―his character―his ways―his habits of thought―all, in fact, that is public in his life. Just as those in exalted stations become subjects of popular criticism, and their form is imaged in the mind, yet, whilst very much may be known of them, they themselves, in their private capacities, are, of course, unknown but to their immediate relations.
In like manner much may be known about God without any real knowledge of Himself; and yet it is the knowledge of Himself that alone is of any saving value. Hence the Lord Jesus said, “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)); and Paul said, “I know whom I have believed.” (2 Tim. 1:1212For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12).) It is not an acquaintance with truths that makes Him known, nor with doctrine merely, but knowledge of God Himself. It is certain that without such doctrine He could not be known―saving as Creator, or in ways of providence that declare His majesty and inscrutability―but there may be the clearest apprehension of the letter without the smallest knowledge of God. There is no reason why one might not master the contents of the Bible, or become a lucid expositor of them to others, who himself has never been divinely illuminated. In fact, that such is the case today is abundantly demonstrated, and the Church has no greater enemy than teachers of a truth that has never become effectual in their own souls by the power of the Spirit of God. A corpse may, be very beautiful and possess a complete organism, but the vital spark is wanting. In like manner a brain may be replete of doctrine, theology, truth in letter, and yet the heart be totally ignorant of God.
Now, I do not know a more important truth for the day than that Christianity brings us (believers) into the knowledge of God―makes “the living and true God” personally known to the soul―His truth, His love, His grace, His power, His sympathy, His holiness, His patience―all that He is in Himself, and all for the soul; He has revealed Himself in a way that makes Him known. Creation did not confer such a revelation, nor does providence, nor law; but, as Christ said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father,” and further, “No one knoweth the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him” such an one knows the Father. What a blessed answer to the “agnosticism” of the day, which tells us that God is unknowable, and also to the miserable shuffle which, in order to please science, and, at the same time, patronize revelation, says that God is both knowable and unknowable! Science (alas! falsely so called) means neither more nor less than that God cannot be known―revelation declares the opposite. And so we read in 1 Cor. 2:1212Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12), “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
This is true, notice, of the believer, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God... but he that is spiritual discerneth all things.”
“The things of God,” therefore, are revealed in Christianity, and to the Christian, in whom the Spirit of God dwells. This is a blessed fact. Proud agnosticism may scorn the idea, and cry “Impossible,” but the fact is divinely real, however incommunicable by men. The impossibility is in getting blind eyes to see, and deaf ears to hear!
Tell us plainly that we have no sins that need forgiveness―no tempest-tossed needs to be tranquillized―no burdened spirit that needs relief―no finite mind to be instructed―no wearied heart that craves rest and comfort, then we can accept your cold hypothesis that there is no sin-pardoning God―no cleansing blood―no burden-bearer―no fount of wisdom no bosom for the weary and heavy laden―no hand of sympathy to wipe the tear away―no throne of grace to comfort, to nerve, to strengthen, to cheer―no Friend that sticketh closer than a brother―no arm to lean or when others break―no heart to trust when others prove untrue. Ah! what means Bethany? what Gethsemane? what Calvary?
What the Spirit, sent as Comforter from the glory into which that Friend has entered?
What the Spirit of adoption that gives the cry of “Abba, Father”? All a vast deception―a splendid delusion―a magnificent imposture! Not thus speaks the soul that “has tasted that the Lord is gracious,” or that has proved His power.
Instance the intercession of Moses for his rebellious people in Num. 14, at a time when the Lord spoke of smiting and disinheriting them: “Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word.”
Or, again, look at the prayer of Joshua, in ch. 10, when, in order to achieve a complete victory over the five confederate kings of the Amorites, “He said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies ... And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man.”
Or, again, call to remembrance the challenge of Elijah to the prophets of Baal in the reign of the wicked Ahab. He stood alone. They numbered four hundred and fifty. The poor bewildered people of Israel “halted between two opinions” ―whether Jehovah was God, or whether Baal was God! The test was simple―an offering to Baal, and another to God, and he that answered by fire was to be God. The challenge was accepted. The prophets of Baal cried on the name of Baal from morning until noon, “O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered.”
This state of things continued until the silence of their deity became intolerable. All that men, in downright earnest, could do they did― “They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.” But all to no purpose. Baal did not hear. After this Elijah, the solitary witness of Jehovah, the man of faith, steps calmly forward, prepares his offering, turns in childlike confidence to God, saying, “Let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel... then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice...” Thus Jehovah answered, and proved that He, and not Baal, was God in Israel. This might have been a subject of unbelief to some of the people, and a mere “opinion” to others; but to one who, like Elijah, lived in constant intercourse with Jehovah, it was a blessed certainty. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”
Now, it may be asked, “Why does God not display His power in some such fashion at the present time? Is there not as much unbelief in Christendom as there was in the days of Elijah in Israel?” And supposing that He did, as He surely might, what would be the consequence? It would just be judgment on the opponents. They would assuredly suffer, as did the followers of Baal in another way. But the wondrous reason is that “His longsuffering is salvation.” Ah! what a secret is thus made known. The infidel may disbelieve, the skeptic may carp, the scoffer may despise, the agnostic may ridicule, and the atheist may deny, but little do they dream that the tender hand of God’s longsuffering holds back, awhile, the bolts of His certain judgment. Yes, “awhile”! For longsuffering with the sinner does not mean indifference as to his sins; and this kind of suffering, it “long,” is not eternal! Longsuffering is salvation let the suffering cease and then―?
A word in closing on what Christianity does for the believer. St. Paul’s expression has been quoted, “I know whom I have believed.” If it be said, “Yes, Paul; but he was an apostle.” True; but he connects this knowledge with believing and not with attainment. But St. John says, in writing to the babes in Christ, “Ye have known the Father;” and one of the articles of the new Covenant is, “They shall all know Me, from the least to the greatest.”
We are set as Christians in this relation. It is for our constant enjoyment now, and will be valued by us, and borne witness to, just in proportion to our energy of soul and the measure of our communion with God. J. W. S.