THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

MAX I. REICH

THE FRIEND, TWELFTH MONTH 21, 1916

Everything of real value lies wrapped up in the knowledge of God. Truly it is the sum of all blessedness for man. But how may God be known? The heart is hungry until this momentous question is revealed. GOD CAN ONLY BE KNOWN BY REVELATION. No one knoweth the eternal Father save the eternal Son in His bosom, and he to whom the Son is pleased to reveal him. Christ is "the Word" in whom God is "declared," "the true Light" who illuminates the heart of man with "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God." If that "Word" speak not to me, if that "Light" shine not within me, I shall continue both ignorant and dark touching real, living acquaintance with God.

The Holy Scriptures are given by inspiration of God, they are the words of the Living Word through human lips or human pens, guided and controlled by the Divine Spirit. They tell me about God, they are a revelation from God. But they are not God, nor the revelation of God; that I find in the Son; I must "hear Him;" and the Scriptures point me away from their letter to Him who is the life giving Spirit.

The prophets of Israel spoke of the dawn of a new dispensation, the glorious day of the new covenant. The crowning blessing of that covenant was that those in it would not need to be taught by man to know God. They would know Him by direct Divine teaching, through Divine writing on their hearts. Though Israel rejected that covenant and clung to the mere outward knowledge imparted by the Law, the blessing of this covenant may be enjoyed by every one. The apostles spoke of themselves as "able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life." Those converted thorught their ministry were "manifestly declared to be the espistle of Christ, ministered by us written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; not in tablets of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the heart." Such converts could be written to as not needing that any man should teach them, that is in repsect to their acquaintance with God, for the Annointing they had received was their inward Teacher, who taught them to abide in the Father and the Son. Such only are true New Testament believers. Art thou such an one?

The true knowledge of God consists in the life of God. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." Everyone breathing this life can testify: I know that the Son of God has come to me, and has given me that understanding which can understand God. This is the true God found, and eternal life enjoyed.

The business of the seeker after God is to be silent, so that the "Word," who has become flesh, and has put Himself in His grace in connection with man, might speak to Him, as he assuredly will, until God is known in His nature and life.