FOR THE LOVE OF TRUTH: NOTES ON RUNNING THE WAY OF THE LORD TO THE LAST DAY

SCRIPTURE. “I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.” – PSALM 119:30-33, NKJV

KEY WORDS. Truth; Judgments; Cling; Shame; Run; Commandments; Enlarge

QUOTATIONS

“Above all, don’t lie to yourself! The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” ― FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY, The Brothers Karamazov, 1880; edited

“I am not concerned at present with blame; I am trying to find out the truth. And from that point of view the very idea of something being imperfect, of its not being what it ought to be, has certain consequences.” C.S. LEWIS, Mere Christianity, 1952, p. 13; edited

“I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” – JESUS, THE CHRIST, John 14:6, c. 30 AD, Amplified Bible

Selah.

1. FIRST THOUGHTS

It was a very long time ago in a place far, far away when I asked the Lord A Question in my earliest moments of being a Christian: “Lord, how is it that so many people look for the Truth, yet seemed to arrive very different answers?” The Answer given to this nascent believer remains with me to this very day:

“The one who asks of me Truth ‘from a pure heart’ will always be shown the truth.”

Although at the time I didn’t fully grasp and appreciate the meaning of what was said to me, in the subsequent decades of following Christ I would discover a mountain of sound theology and practical morality that attests to its wisdom for today’s Epic Struggle over the Truth.

Permit me to explain.

MOTIVES. From a theological perspective, “the heart of man” is a really, really big deal to God. You know the standard passages well by now. All cited in the Amplified Classic Edition for translation nuance.

• JEREMIAH 17:10. “I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

• 1 SAMUEL 16:7. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”

• LUKE 6:45. “The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.”

• MARK 12:30. “And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. ‘This is the first and principal commandment.”

THREE LOCI OF MOTIVATION. Without going to the psychological or theological literature, common sense tells us there are Three Loci of Human Will (or motivation, intention) that drive overt action.

• SELF (Egoism): We know from both sound doctrine and human experience that every human being is born selfish. It is our nature to both defend and acquire things for ourselves above and beyond all other incentives. (2) OTHER (Altruism): At a somewhat higher moral altitude is found those who wish to assist or help or encourage or enhance the lives of other people more than themselves. (3) GOD (Theism): But at the very highest level possible for human action, we find that comparatively rare individual whose entire heart is given over to Obedience of Divine Preference.

This last individual holds fealty to the Commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ higher than any other preference in life. And, importantly, lives that way. In the parlance of JOHN PIPER’S “Christian Hedonism:” Giving God pleasure redounds back to us, as with 1924 Christian Olympian ERIC LIDDELL: “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure” (Chariots of Fire, 1981).

Caveat. We must quickly note however that although Man does not know his own heart, God does. It is therefore axiomatic that we check with Him on a reasonably regular basis to find out if our heart is properly oriented toward the doing of His Will and Purpose in life.

KING DAVID sets the high bar for this spiritual discipline in this well-known and  courageous Song.

“Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – PSALM 139:23-24, AMPC

Thus we come back full circle to a better understanding of how important our heart motivation is for every major decision we make in life. It can only be one of those three as our PRIMARY FOCUS: for Self, for Others, or for God – the last of which is inclusive of the other two when we get it right.

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” –  MATTHEW 6:33, AMP

Or in the words of America’s favorite Pirate of the Caribbean: “You savvy?” I should hope so beloved, I should hope so.

1. THE PURE IN HEART

All of this is of such a terrible importance that it reduces down to a Single Maxim pronounced by Christ himself and his magnificent Beatitudes:

“Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous — possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for [only] they shall see God!” – MATTHEW 5:8, AMPC

The richer meaning here we find in the Commentary penned by the brilliant English Baptist theologian, JOHN GILL. He neatly divides his exposition into Two Sections that address the very core of what the Master was teaching us.

“‘Blessed are the pure in heart’ – Not in the head; for men may have pure notions and impure hearts; not in the hand, or action, or in outward conversation only; so the Pharisees were outwardly righteous before men, but inwardly full of impurity; i.e., ‘in heart’. The heart of man is naturally unclean; nor is it in the power of man to make it clean, or to be pure from his sin; nor is any man in this life, in such sense, so pure in heart, as to be entirely free from sin.

This is only true of Christ, angels, and glorified saints: but such may be said to be so, who, though they have sin dwelling in them, are justified from all sin, by the righteousness of Christ, and are ‘clean through the Word’,or sentence of justification pronounced upon them, on the account of that righteousness; whose iniquities are all of them forgiven, and whose hearts are sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus, which cleanses from all sin; and who have the grace of God wrought in their hearts, which, though as yet imperfect, it is entirely pure; there is not the least spot or stain of sin in it: and such souls as they are in love with, so they most earnestly desire after more purity of heart, lip, life, and conversation. ‘And happy they are!’

‘For they shall see God’ – In this life, enjoying Communion with Him, both in private and public, in the several duties of Religion, in the house and Ordinances of God; where they often behold His beauty, see His power and His glory, and taste, and know, that He is good and gracious: and in the other world, where they shall see God in Christ, with the eyes of their understanding; and God Incarnate, with the eyes of their bodies, after the Resurrection; which sight of Christ, and God in Christ, will be unspeakably glorious, desirable, delightful, and satisfying; it will be free from all darkness error, and from all interruption; it will be an appropriating and transforming one, and will last forever!” – An Exposition of the Old and New Testament, 9 vols., 1746-1763; edited

SEEING GOD. The Greek term for “see,” significantly I think, is ‘Optanomai’ [ὀπτάνομα], translated: “‘To gaze upon something Remarkable with eyes wide open;’ earnest, sustained, close inspection; to behold the One who has appeared to an observer.” Webster (1828) adds: “To have knowledge of the existence and the apparent qualities of [God].”

Selah.

THE WORD. Please don’t miss the primary path toward a pure heart in an otherwise sinful individual: “Clean through the Word of God.” But even as we deeply study and meditate upon God’s Precepts, even then, perhaps especially then, our heart motive must be pure.

That is to say,‘We go to the Word’ to find His Answers that we have concerning our lives and how to direct our lives. There can be no hidden agenda! None! Whatever God says, it must go without saying we shall do it! This is the pure heart beloved, to genuinely and sincerely intend to actually DO whatever He asks of us, our stumbling and imperfections notwithstanding.

EIGHT WAYS TO A PURE HEART. As I prepared for this lesson, I came across a wonderfully clarifying article by a minister from New England that earlier studied in Scotland, NEIL ROBBIE, from his personal Blog (May 3, 2008; edited). To his credit, he in turn derived much insight from the earlier work of the English Puritan preacher, THOMAS WATSON in his Exposition on the Beatitudes (1660).

Here then are Eight Spiritual Disciplines moving a polluted heart to a comparatively “pure heart.”

1. OFTEN LOOK INTO THE WORD OF GOD. ‘Now ye are clean through the word’ (John 15:3). ‘Thy word is very pure’ (Psalm 119:140). God’s Word is pure, not only for the matter of it, but the effect, because it makes us pure. ‘Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth’ (John 17: 17). By looking into this pure crystal we are changed into the image of it. The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our souls and a laver to wash them away. The Word breathes nothing but purity; it irradiates the mind; it consecrates the heart.

• GO TO THE BATH(S). (i) The Bath of Tears. Go into this Bath. Peter had sullied and defiled himself with sin and he washed himself with penitential tears. Mary Magdalene, who was an impure sinner, ‘stood at Jesus’ feet weeping’ (Luke 7: 38). Mary’s tears washed her heart as well as Christ’s feet. Weep for those sins which are so many as have passed all arithmetic. This Water of Contrition is healing and purifying. (ii) The Bath of Christ’s Blood. This is that ‘fountain opened for sin and uncleanness’ (Zechariah 13: 1). A soul steeped in the brinish Tears of Repentance and bathed in the Blood of Christ is made pure. This is that ‘spiritual washing.’

• GET FAITH. [‘Pistisi’ (πίστις) trust, fidelity] It is a soul-cleansing grace. ‘Having purified their hearts by faith’ (Acts 15: 9). The woman in the Gospel that but touched the hem of Christ’s garment was healed. A touch of Faith heals. If I believe Christ and all His merits are mine, how can I sin against him? We do not willingly injure those friends who, we believe, love us. Nothing can have a greater force and efficacy upon the heart to make it pure than Faith. Faith will remove mountains, the mountains of pride, lust, envy. Faith and the love of sin are inconsistent.

• BREATHE AFTER THE SPIRIT. He is called the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1: 13). He purgeth the heart as lightning purgeth the air. That we may see what a Purifying Virtue of the Spirit, Who is compared to: Fire (Acts 2:3); Wind (Acts 2:24); and Water (John 7:38-39). All of which God has designed for ‘our Purification,’ or in doctrinal terminology, ‘our Sanctification’ – i.e., the act or declaration that something (or someone) is holy, worthy of ‘seeing the Lord’ up close and personal.

• TAKE HEED OF CONVERSE WITH THE WICKED. One vain mind makes another. One hard heart makes another. The stone in the body is not infectious, but the stone in the heart is. One profane spirit poisons another. ‘Beware of the society of the wicked’ [especially when it is “Christian”]. Some may object: But what hurt is in this? Did not Jesus converse with sinners? (Luke 5: 29). Though Christ did converse with sinners, He could not be polluted with their sin. His Divine Nature was a sufficient antidote to preserve Him from infection. But the case is altered with us. We have a stock of corruption within and the least thing will increase this stock. Therefore, it is dangerous mingling ourselves among the wicked. If we would be pure in heart let us shun their society. DK. With proper precautions per these disciplines, we must converse with the wicked for their good, but only for that purpose.

• WALK WITH THEM THAT ARE PURE. As the Communion of the saints is in our Creed, so it should be in our company. ‘He that walketh with the wise shall be wise’ (Proverbs 13: 20), and he that walketh with the pure shall be pure. The saints are like a bed of spices. By intermixing ourselves with them we shall partake of their savouriness. Association begets assimilation. Sometimes God blesses good society to the conversion of others.

• WAIT AT WISDOM’S DOORS. ‘Reverence the Word preached but especially written.’ The Word of God sucked in by Faith (Hebrews 4: 2) transforms the heart into the likeness of it (Romans 6: 17). The Word is an Holy Seed (James 1: 18), which being cast into the heart makes it partake of the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1: 4). DK. My second caveat or amendment to this teaching is that this wholly depends on, again, one’s basic heart-motive. If you consider the preacher as ‘God,’ or read the Word for selfish gain, you will not receive the Truth, be set free, nor be able to “see God.” It is axiomatic.

• PRAY FOR HEART PURITY.  Job propounds the question, ‘Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?’ (Job 14:4; 15:14). God can do it! Out of an impure heart He can produce grace. Pray that prayer of David, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God’ (Psalm 51:10). Most men pray more for full purses than pure hearts. We should pray for heart-purity fervently. It is a matter we are most nearly concerned in. ‘Without holiness no man shall see the Lord’ (Hebrews 12: 14). Our prayer must be with sighs and groans (Romans 8: 23-26). There must not only be elocution but affection.

LOVING & SEEING GOD. “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. [And then] I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.” – JESUS OF NAZARETH, John 14:15-18, Amplified Bible

Everybody on board at this point? It is in (1) Pure Motive and (2) Obedience to His Word that one is truly His, truly purified, and – wait for it – truly Saved! Oy. Am I permitted to say that? Jesus Christ just did, beloved. He just did in case you hadn’t noticed.

1. THE TEACHING

SCRIPTURE. “I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.” – PSALM 119:30-33, NKJV

KEY WORDS. Truth; Judgments; Cling; Shame; Run; Enlarge; Commandments – These constitute the conceptual core of this entire passage, so let’s get to it.

• WAY OF TRUTH. What better way to begin with this Hebrew term ‘Emunah’ [אֱמוּנָה], translated: “Firmness, steadfastness, faithfulness or fidelity [to God and the Absolute]; a Divine attribute; stability; certainty of such strength it allows an individual to stand firm [in times of adversity or trial]; conformity to fact or [Final] Reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be.” ‘This is The Way of Christ’ [‘Derek,’ דֶּרֶךְ – life course, journey, manner].

• JUDGMENTS. Joined forever with Emunah, this is taken from the word, ‘Mishpat’ [מִשְׁפָט]: “A just verdict, sentence or decree; pertaining to law, ordinance, rule or custom; privileges or rights to what is due; a word of terrible importance and centrality in order to all governments to understand and follow to maintain order; justice, right, rectitude; joy coming from righteousness.”

• CLING! The second most important word from this passage, ‘Dabaq’ [דָּבַק] means: “To cleave, impinge, keep close, abide fast; follow hard after; to pursue aggressively in order to overtake; to stick with or to; remain steadfast, as with bone to skin, hand to sword, girdle to loins; joined together in an intense proximity to one another;  to hold fast upon, especially by winding round or embracing; as, the tendril of a vine clings to its support.”

• SHAME. All that surrounds this term in the strenuous effort to avoid the ultimate disaster: putting God and Truth to shame. From the Hebrew, ‘Bosh’ [בּוּשׁ]: “To disgrace or be disgraced; to humiliate or be humiliated; to become severely confounded or disappointed; deeply embarrassed or profoundly dismayed; to become pale [or weak]; disillusionment leading to a broken spirit.” DK. I must insert here that such condition produces either Destruction or a magnificent, albeit painful, New Beginning with Repentance.

• RUN! Another aggressive verb, ‘Ruts’ [רוּץ], meaning: “To rush toward, as with a footman or guard [or messenger on assignment]; to bring hastily; can also to run in hostility against [i.e., to protect from a threat]; a royal escort able to run swiftly like lightning [toward its objective]; to move or pass on the feet with celerity or rapidity, by leaps or long quick steps; to move with haste; act quickly [and decisively].”

• COMMANDMENTS. Now to the Cornerstone of this teaching. From ‘Mitsvah’ [מִצְוָה]: “‘The Law of Moses;’ absolute Precepts of Jehovah; the Ordinance that designates what is due; The Code of Wisdom; a mandate; an order or injunction given by authority; [an inviolable, Divine] charge; by way of eminence, a precept of the Decalogue, or Moral Law, written on tables of stone, at Mount Sinai; final authority wielding coercive power.”

• ENLARGE. A grand consequence of obedience in this context is found here. From the Hebrew, ‘Rachab’ [רָחַב]: “To be or grow wide or large; to broaden; to make room [for, by imp. a blessing]; to open; to expand one’s boundaries or territory; to make greater in quantity or dimensions; to extend in limits, breadth or side; to expand in bulk [cf. 1 Chron. 4:9-10, the Prayer of Jabez].”

THE COMMENTARY. “While the souls of the children of this world cleave to the earth as their portion, the Children of Light are greatly burdened, because of the remains of carnal affections in their hearts. It is unspeakable comfort to a gracious soul, to think with what tenderness all its complaints are received by a gracious God. We can talk of the wonders of redeeming love, when we understand the way of God’s precepts, and walk in that way. The penitent melts in sorrow for sin: even the patient spirit may melt in the sense of affliction, it is then its interest to pour out its soul before God.

The Way of Lying means all false ways by which men deceive themselves and others, or are deceived by Satan and his instruments. Those who know and love the Law of the Lord, desire to know it more, and love it better. The way of serious godliness is the Way of Truth; the only true way to happiness:we must always have actual regard to it. Those who stick to the word of God, may in faith expect and pray for acceptance with God. Lord, never leave me to do that by which I shall shame myself, and do not thou reject my services. Those that are going to Heaven, should still press forward. God, by His Spirit, enlarges the hearts of his people when He gives them Wisdom. The believer prays to be set free from sin.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

DK. As I have argued for years now and shall not discontinue anytime soon: It is THE WAY OF TRUTH, accompanied by but not higher than The Way of Love, that shall steer us steady and true, beloved. Or its absence leave us shipwrecked on the Rocks of Hell.

This is the Teaching of the Canon, beloved, from Genesis to Revelation, and it shall not be violated with impunity. Selah.

1. LAST THOUGHTS

Permit me to put this lesson to bed with a very personal anecdote that occurred when my wife and I were living our first married years in Chesapeake, Virginia. I was employed as associate professor of journalism and communication at Regent University, while Suzette plied her wares in Norfolk as an elementary school teacher.

As it happened, we were in our new home that the Lord graciously provided, and I had just come out of the shower on one of those cold mornings when the mirror steams up. As I looked at the mirror, I was astounded at what I saw: In large, two foot high letters, I saw one Word etched on the moist surface:

“Endure!”

With the exclamation point and all. Later that morning, I went to work and my editor of our then monthly news journal, The Standard (named in honor of Christian politician and newspaper publisher, ABRAHAM KUYPER), Mark O’Keefe, came running in excitedly to tell me that he had heard a word from the Lord as well. I enthusiastically asked, “What is the word, Mark?”

“Persevere!”

I recall my heart dropping since at that early stage in my Christian matriculation I thought we had two entirely different words. So as was my early practice, I ran to my New American Standard Concordance to look up the Greek terms for each word. You know where this is going if you know a little about these two concepts.

The Lord used the very same word to describe and define both words that Mark and I had heard that morning in the Fall of 1997 or so, best I can recall.

HUPOMONÈ! [ὑπομονή]. Translated as: “‘A remaining behind [as with a Remnant]; a patient endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for; associated with hope; the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; cheerful, hopeful constancy; bearing or suffering; a continuing under pain or distress without resistance, or without sinking or yielding to the pressure; sufferance; patience.”

I mean, are there any questions, beloved? Any at all. I had no idea that over 25 years ago, the Spirit would speak to us about This Moment, but then, He is after all the Creator and Master of Time. He sees all from start to finish. And beloved, we are racing toward our Finish Line just ahead, though I know not the Day nor the Hour.

But it’s coming. It’s coming. Therefore, there is one more familiar passage that takes on powerful urgency that we should more fully appreciate.

MATTHEW 24:13 (AMP). “Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. ‘But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.’” – JESUS OF NAZARETH, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, c. 30 AD

As I scanned the Commentaries for this brief but somewhat controversial passage, I found one that offers us some precise clarity on the entire matter of SALVATION – whether by Grace, or Works – or a Middle Position (that I take) based on Grace plus Perseverance.

It is long, but ever so important, so permit me to cite again the learned EDITORS from the Got Questions online journal (ret. Feb. 21, 2023; edited).

“In Matthew 24:13 Jesus says, ‘He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved’ (KJV), or, as the NIV has it, ‘The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.’ This verse is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, an Explanation to His disciples about things to come …

This specific verse is best understood when read in context. Verses Matthew 24:9–14 says, ‘Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ‘At that time many will turn away from the faith’ and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ‘but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.’ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’ …

‘Those who endure to the end’ are the opposite of those in the previous verse whose love grows cold. Jesus’ statement that he who endures to the end will be saved cannot be taken to mean that our salvation is somehow dependent on our personal ability to remain saved. Rather, it is a promise of perseverance. Those who have the Grace to endure to the end are the ones who are genuinely saved by grace. The various trials Jesus mentions will reveal our true colors.‘Most will grow cold and fall away from Christ,’ showing that they are professors only and not truly born again (Matthew 24:12). But those who endure and stand firm in the faith, despite incitements to do otherwise, are showing that they are genuine children of God “who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5, ESV, emphasis added) …

When Jesus says, “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13, ESV), He is speaking of those who are truly born again, whose lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. True followers of Jesus Christ will withstand the onslaught of wickedness, recognize and reject false teaching, and cling fast to the truth of God’s Word. They will overcome this world and be granted reward in the world to come (Revelation 3:21). Those who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22) have His power working in them to enable them to stand firm (Romans 14:4; Jude 1:24–25).”

DK. Thus I conclude with this, specially addressed to all those who have been dismayed by my Narrow Road Teaching: Only ones fully committed, fully prepared to suffer hardship, who are truly saved. Specifically, they are those who begin by accurately discerning good from evil in the Last Times, and devote themselves unto death if necessary, to follow after the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth, so help them God.

These are the children of God. These are the sons and daughters of the New Testament Issachar. This is the True Church that shall always be a minority Church. This is the Remnant, beloved, and ‘you don’t get to go’ unless you persevere until The End to demonstrate the fullness of your Rebirth in The Messiah.

In the words of the inimitable FORREST GUMP, the fictional American philosopher and erstwhile Walter Mitty among us all: “And that’s all I have to say about that.”

For now.

Ever your servant, DK

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