WHEN an ancient philosopher was asked, “Who and what is God?” he requested a day to consider the question and frame his answer. At the end of the time he desired two days more, and then four days, each time doubling the number, and giving as a reason for it that “the more he meditated upon the subject, the more obscure it appeared.” Finally, he replied that the more he pondered the more perplexed he became, for the more involved in mystery the question appeared.
Alas, the human mind has always reeled under this great question in its vastness and importance. We can understand the shrinking and sense of littleness which has been awakened in the annual address of the President of the British Association last year. No one can deny he is one of the leading astronomers, yet, in attempting with his own short ladder to scale the loftiest heights, and with his scanty rule to fathom and measure deepest depths and infinite distance, he was forced to exclaim, “We do not know.” In one of the oldest recorded controversies on the ways of God, we have this remarkable question: “Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” Yet the same book declares of the Almighty, “We cannot find Him out” (Job 11:7; 37:237Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (Job 11:7)
23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. (Job 37:23)).
No matter how great the intellect, we are constantly reminded of man’s littleness, and of the limitation of his knowledge of God.
It is indeed true that we cannot find God out by science or reason. But, blessed be God, He can reveal Himself. He has done so. Thus we turn for answers, not to science but to the testimony of the Son of God in the Scriptures; not to reason, but to a divine revelation in the Word of God. Just as the sun in the heavens is seen by its own light, in like manner God is known only by His own revealing.
There is, dear reader, such a thing as the knowledge of God. Men are counseled by the Holy Ghost to form His acquaintance, “Acquaint now thyself with Him (God), and be at peace; thereby good shall come to thee” (Job 22:2121Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. (Job 22:21)). “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 11:3-53The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. (Proverbs 11:3‑5)).
The great end of all God’s dealings and doings in this world is to make man acquainted with Himself. Upon a heathen temple was written: “Know thyself.” But over the temple of God, as typified in Solomon’s day (2 Chron. 2:55And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. (2 Chronicles 2:5)) ―as expressed in the Lord Jesus (John 11:1919And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. (John 11:19)) ―as seen in the Church (Eph. 11:21), is written in bold letters “KNOW GOD.” For thy soul’s greatest want and truest good, Know God. To know God is to be at peace with Him. As another has well said, “When a soul knows the Lord, the moss miraculous transformation takes place.” This mighty distance is bridged between God and man. God has drawn so near to man in the person of His Son, that every fear is gone in the contemplation of it, and you find your truest delight in God Himself.
The very thought of acquaintance with God is inspiring, the reality glorious. O unsaved one, make His acquaintance. What good shall then come to thee! “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)). As I think of the terrible judgment on Christendom, I feel the importance of pressing on readers of Tidings of Light and Peace their responsibility to make God’s acquaintance. God is not a distant Being, neither does He dwell in thick darkness now. He has revealed Himself in the Word―His beloved Son, Who has come into this world and been made flesh that man might understand God unto perfection. The words and ways of Jesus were the words and ways of God. It was said to Israel, “Prepare to meet thy God”; but every true believer in Christ can say “Thank God, I’ve met Him in Christ.” In the life of the Lord we have the manifestation of God. “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” And as I see my Saviour receiving publicans, harlots, and sinners to His heart, I can only exclaim, “That is the God of the Bible; that is the way in which He received me.”
But the full, perfect declaration of the Blessed God was in the precious death of the Lord Jesus.
That death brought to light the Father’s heart, and ours has won completely. As we listen to those heart-thrilling, soul-touching words of the Saviour on the cross, we not only exclaim with Pilate, “Behold the Man!” but “Behold your God!” There we behold the full manifestation of God’s love to a ruined world. At the same time, His holiness, justice and righteous character met.
Creation, with all its wonderful display of skillful workmanship, never reveals God fully. His power and Godhead are seen, but not His heart—not His holy nature of love and grace and mercy. The preaching of the cross is still foolishness to the philosopher, but Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God to the believer.
Why civilized men should rise no higher than the brute beast and live only for the present world is difficult to understand. Their aspirations, at best, are vague and indistinct as to things unseen and eternal. Ah, learned man, thy philosophy cannot make thee calm in the prospect of meeting a holy God! The handiwork of God has been marred by sin. You cannot otherwise account for the state of things in the world. Deny it you dare not. It exists, whether you like it or not (1 Cor. 15:2121For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:21)). Beloved friends, let me ask, and challenge your heart in doing so, ‘What has the Gospel done for you?’ In the Gospel the blessed God draws near to you, and says in unmistakable language, I want you to know Me. Your every blessing lies in that knowledge.
“‘Tis not for man to trifle―life is brief, and sin is here.
Our age is but the falling of a leaf, a dropping tear.
We have no time to pass away the hours;
All must be earnest in a world like ours.”
W. N.