Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
542. A portrait in oils by a great artist may be viewed in
different lights. To the utterly unartistic eye it may be esteemed
or valued according to the cost of the frame, the paint and the
canvas. A farmer once exclaimed, when told of the value of
a certain picture : "Why, I could paint all the fences and buildings
on my farm at one-tenth of the amount." But the artistic eye
sees in the picture beauties that fill his soul with rapturous
delight. So to the unspiritual the Lord's Supper is mere bread
and wine, and so little of it that it is worthless. But the spiritual
eye sees the portrait of Jesus, not merely the bodily form,
dying on the cross; but the loving heart of the Redeemer is
laid bare to view as it is nowhere else.
543. Most people are familiar with a remarkable and striking
picture that appeared some years ago, copies of which were to
be seen in most artists' windows. It was the picture of a skull
or death's-head. At a distance it was that and nothing more.
A picture to make one shudder. But on drawing near to it the
picture was transformed into life and beauty. Thus we see in
the Lord's Supper not alone the horrible death of agony and
shame. We see also the amazing love of God and of Christ,
and also our glorious redemption.
LOVE
544. Three short words may be said to sum up the sublimest
truths of divine revelation. "God is love." Our religion commences
in God's infinite love to fallen man, for "we love,
because he first loved us" (1 John 4: 19), and it is complete in
our love to Him and our neighbours, for "on these two commandments
hangeth the whole law, and the prophets." "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart," and "thy
neighbour as thyself" (Matt. 22:37-40).
It must never be forgotten that our love to others is a
necessary corollary of love to God. "If a man say, I love God,
and hateth his brother, he is a liar, for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen,
cannot love God whom he hath not
seen" (1 John 4:20). By making the principle of love supreme
in the soul, man reaches the full standard of his being, and
manifests, by disposition, deed, and word, precisely the same
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