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March 19 The Gift of Truth
Trustworthy, Dependable Promises
“The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is
but for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19).
Promises are estimated by the truth of the one who makes them.
Many men make promises only to break them, to mock the heart that
trusted in them. Those who lean upon such men lean upon broken
reeds. But God is behind the promises He makes. He is ever mindful
of His covenant, and His truth endures to all generations. 48
Truth makes its impression upon the heart, and is recommended
by the conscience. But men begin to speculate. Why are there so few
who believe this truth? they ask. Have any of the ministers or learned
men believed it?
Many refuse to obey the truth through fear that they will lose their
standing in the world. They allow the inconveniences in the pathway
of truth to prevent them from following the Saviour. They do not realize
that to reject truth means to lose eternal life.
The heavenly intelligences watch with intense interest the struggle
between tempter and tempted. It is a life-and-death question that
is being settled. Christ knows this, and before those whose souls are
trembling in the balance, He holds up the sure test of obedience or
disobedience, saying, “He that loveth his life”—his good name, his
reputation, his money, his property, his business—”shall lose it; and
he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John
12:25). He who hates the life which is lived in transgression of God's
law, he who accepts the divine requirements, leaving God to take care
of the consequences, will gain eternal life. 49
It is our duty to love Jesus as our Redeemer. He has a right to command
our love, but He invites us to give Him our heart. He calls us to
walk with Him in the path of humble, truthful obedience. . . . If we
choose to live with Christ through the ceaseless ages of eternity, why
not choose Him now as our most loved and trusted friend, our best
and wisest Counselor? 50
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