DEFENCE OF THE TRUTH
DEFENCE OF THE TRUTH
The book of Leviticus refers to our access to God; it refers to approach. Before we can be right outwardly, we must be right inwardly: before we can be for God publicly, we must know what it is to be with God. God spoke to Moses from out of the tabernacle; it was there that the light found its dwelling place.
In Hebrews we read: “Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building”. It is not a tabernacle of material things; it is not of this creation; it is a moral idea. There is a vessel for the testimony, a home for the light.
When the tabernacle was set up we read, “A cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle”; that is, God was there, and desired to be approached. So today, He has provided everything so that we might draw near. There is nothing to keep us away except our own wills; everything is provided that we may draw near.
Paul went to Corinth, and announced the testimony of God, and the consequence was that there was an assembly formed; the testimony was to find a place [p. 431] there, and the light was to be defended. Every true believer is called upon to defend the testimony. In his daily avocations he is to be ever ready to defend the truth. We must not lower the standard at any time.
It may be said, This is not the time for that, or this is not the place or this is not the company; but at all times you are to be ready for the defence of the truth. You confess it, and then you have all that is necessary to support you, because “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”. There is support in the name, and you have the consciousness that the Holy Spirit is with you.
It is often said that your life should confess Him, but Scripture says, “Confess with thy mouth”; your life is to be in accord with your mouth. In conflict you get confirmation as to the reality of things. When you are in contact with the world you come under reproach for your confession, but you are confirmed of the Lord in it.
We have to know approach first: what it is to go in to God; because if we do not go in, we do not know what we have to defend. Light comes in by the Spirit, and the gift of the Spirit connects us with what is within. A man who has the Spirit is justified, and then he confesses the Lord Jesus, and he is saved.
God does not put upon us burdens which we are not able to bear. In the power of the Spirit you are able to defend the truth. You never lower the standard; you stand by it.