God Tells It As It Is

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
Hannibal, the mighty Carthaginian general who lived 200 B.C., lost an eye in one of those perilous campaigns for which he was so famous. When later in life two artists were engaged to paint his portrait, so anxious were they both to hide the physical defects of their hero that neither of them gave a true representation of the man. The one painted him full faced, but gave him two good eyes; while the other produced a side-faced picture, but carefully selected that side which had the good eye! The intention was kind but the result in both cases was deception.
How different are God's ways! Not only does He see beneath the mere outward appearance of a man; but His holy eyes search the dark recesses of his heart (1 Sam. 16:77But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)). Then He clearly reveals to all what he finds within. And what is the revelation?
A missionary in China once read to a large audience the first chapter of Romans. When he had finished a Chinaman came and said he thought it was very unfair for this foreign devil (as missionaries were called) to come and find out all their secret sins, then write them down in a book and read them out in public.
"God is light" (1 John 1:55This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)); but thanks be to God if we have learned the further truth as well, that "God is love" (1 John 4:88He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)). "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). And what the light shining into our hearts reveals, the precious blood of Christ cleanses away completely and forever.