Now there is a new union between you and truth-- or between you and
Christ-- which can never be broken.
Likeness is the
ground of love. A carnal heart cannot like truth because it does not resemble
truth. How is it possible, then, for an earthly heart to love pure heavenly
truth? It is sad when men's understandings clash with their affections, when
judgment and will are so unequally yoked. Truth in the conscience scolding lust
in the heart! Like a quarreling couple, they may live together for a while; but
the discontent will soon expel truth as Ahasuerus did Vashti, and espouse
principles which will not cross his heart in its bent for sin. This has parted
many men from truth in these licentious days-- they cannot sin in peace and
keep sound judgment at the same time.
But if the power
of truth has transformed you into its own likeness by the renewing of your
mind, and make you bear fruit like itself, you will never separate yourself
from it. Before this could happen you would have to part with the new nature
which the Spirit of God has formed in you. But now there is a new union between
you and truth-- or between you and Christ-- which can never be broken.
A mighty power
goes along with wedlock; two persons who have barely known each other can leave
friends and parents to enjoy each other after their affections have been knit
by love and their persons made one by marriage. But a mightier power
accompanies the mystical marriage between the soul and Christ, the soul and
truth. This is the same person who, before conversion, would not have given a
penny for Christ or His truth; yet now, knit to Christ by a secret work of the
Spirit, he can leave the whole world behind for oneness with Him.
A persecutor once
taunted a martyr by asking him if he did not love his wife and children too
much to die. "Yes," answered the Christian, "I love them so
dearly that I would not part with any of them for all that is the Duke of Brunswick--
whose subject he was-- is worth; but for Christ's sake and His truth, farewell
to them all!"
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete
Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell.
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