The Greatest Truth

While contemplating 1st John 2:7, "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you heard from the beginning." I was led back to Leviticus 19 and read through 24:1-4 which reads, "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the LORD regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the LORD regularly."

As I considered the fact that Christ is the head of the church, it is He who arranges the "lamps" (His messengers) on the "lampstand" (His church) both universally and locally for His own glory, and it is His good pleasure to give the power of His Spirit to those who faithfully and believingly ask for it. "And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. for everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:5-13.

While in this line of thought, the apostle Thomas came to mind as our Risen Lord showed him the scars in His hands and His feet, and thus these words came to mind.

So much more is ours to ask
And seek by Solemn Promise
By faith we see His smiling Face
And learn from doubting Thomas.

His scars showed forth the faithful fact
In Him our sins were borne.
But when the Father turned His back,
That's when His heart was torn.

As from the cross He cried aloud,
"Eli, Eli, Lema, Sabacthani?"*
He bore the fullness of God's wrath
Meant for you and I.

Oh, if the thought does not bring tears
Perhaps you're hardened still.
Deceived by sin in which you'll die
And God's full wrath you'll feel.

But Christ Who is my Sacrifice
And Hope for all perfection,
Secured for me by His shed blood
And bodily resurrection,

A steadfast hope and confidence
By grace through faith alone,
Amazed in love, with Him I'll be
Faultless before God's throne.

For He ascended and now He sits
Before our Father's Face
And intercedes for all He chose
Redeemed from Adam's race.

Oh, Holy Spirit, come to us
With power, The Word fulfill.
For the glory of our God,
You are our Guide and Seal.

Oh, help us in this very hour
Your faithful Word proclaim,
Though most will miss THE GREATEST TRUTH,
Lost in their "Easter's" aim.

Michael E. Wood
April 3, 2010

The Greatest Truth is the simplicity of THE GOSPEL, which is Of First Importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised the third day in accordance with the scriptures. 1st Cor.15:3-4

*(English translation: "My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me")