The Lie And The Truth

Departure from God has constantly marked the pathway of men of this world. It began with Adam, who set aside the clear commandment of God and fell a prey to Satan when he assented to the voice of his wife, who had been beguiled by the wily serpent. The conditions that led to the overthrow of men at the Flood, and various other judgements that fell on men at different periods, for example at the Tower of Babel and at the overthrow of Sodom, all tell of the grief of the righteous God of heaven, the result of the waywardness of men. He ever loved man, but man's sin demanded judgement, and in many cases the judgement was a blessing in disguise. It was better for the men of Sodom to be destroyed than to have them reproduce an offspring that would continue in their awful

wickedness. Would that evil men today would consider and turn t6 God, who is ever ready to receive the repentant one with forgiveness and with cleansing!

One of the many by-ways chosen by men which leads them far from God is that of idolatry, the end of which is truly death. It was this that was trodden so frequently by the Israel people after their God had delivered them from the hand of their enemies in the land of Egypt. The golden calf was followed by the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of the god of Rephan, the figures which they made to worship them (Acts 7.43); and when in the land they so often turned aside from the God who had commanded, "Thou shalt have none other gods beside Me," and made them gods of wood and stone and silver and gold.

It was thus in wondrous love and patience God pleaded with His people:

"Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD of hosts : I am the First, and I am the Last; and beside Me there is no God. And who, as I, can proclaim? let him declare it, and set it in order for Me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and that shall come to pass, let them declare" (Isaiah 44.7, R.V.M.).

These worthless things made by the hands of men cannot declare the things that are coming, for it is only God that knows the end from the beginning. A striking example of His powers to declare future events is found in this same chapter of Isaiah. Over one hundred years before the time of Cyrus, king of Persia, the LORD says of him, "He is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure: even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid" (verse 28).

When oppressed by the Ammonites because of their idolatry, Israel cried unto the LORD in their distress; but He replied, "Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress." This was to teach them the folly of their choice. Such gods can neither declare nor save, and,

"Their sorrows shall be multiplied that exchange the LORD for another god" (Psalm 16.4).

After describing the manner of producing these idols by the smith and the carpenter, the LORD, in Isaiah 44, shows up the folly of those who thus turn aside. He says,

"He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: and the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it and worshippeth, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god ... They know not, neither do they consider... neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burnt part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof ... and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand" (verses 16-20).

We might well contrast the feeding upon ashes with the Bread of heaven upon which men may feast. Christ Himself is that Bread, as He says, "I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (John 6.35).

"With ashes who would grudge to part

When called On angels' bread to feast?"

Then how solemn to have a deceived heart that turns one aside, rendering one unable to deliver his soul, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

Let us also remember that this condition of heart is seen in many others who would scorn to bow down to a graven image. The subtle enemy of souls has brought about this condition in many of God's dear children, whereby they are found going onward with a lie in their right hand. How many lies are around us in the religious world! Many of them, hoary with age, are being practised. How, it may be asked, are we to detect the lie from the truth? The answer is, By getting to the word of God and finding there what He has spoken upon any given matter. Let us remember how the Son of God acted when down here among men. What had He in His right hand? It was ever the word of God, the word of truth. He fed upon the word, and with the word He put to flight His enemies, both men and Satan. May we all be helped to be imitators of Him, and with the Psalmist say, "I will lift up my hands also unto Thy commandments .

And I will meditate in Thy statutes."

The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, should be in our right hand. But John in his epistle tells us of some who have the lie:

"He that denieth that Jesus is the Christ" ; "If we say that we have not sinned"; "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments"; and "He that believeth not God." With John we can say, "We know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ " (1 John 5.20). "This is the true God, and eternal life. My little children, guard yourselves from idols."

unknown | Apr 1956
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