Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-05-13
SEEING THE TRUTH
From Vantage Point OF the Bible
Man Gets Best View of
the Master.


or seeing God. though the motive be
will find God looking for him.
Zaccheus. being OF little stature,
climbed into a tree that he might see
the marvellous person whom all the
people followed. He sought to see who
he waste have look at the mere
outer man. He probably had no
thought OF speaking to him OF any de-
sire to be taught by him concerning
the nature OF his mission.
Curiosity led him to seize the point
OF vantage seat In the tree afforded.
Just like those today who secure
some favorable position from which
they can see "A great general or
president who rs to pass that way"
they do not expect the great person
age TO take notice of them. and it is
not probable that Zaccheus had eNpec-
tation of personal notice being ac-
corded TO him.
Great must have been his astonish-
ment at hearing the words. "Zacchcus.
mako haste and come down: for today
/ | must abide at thy house"
The Great Teacher approved the Gu.
riosity that led Zaccheus TO climb
tree to see him
! Had the little man remained in the
crowd would he have been seen and
singled out for special honors?
Seek, and We Shall Find.
God can see the smallest man in the
greatest crowd but he is looking for
those who are looking for him. lie
does not arbitrarily force men to rec.
! ognize him. Seek me and we shall
find me" Is the appointed way.
Men are not forced into the presence
! OF God or into position from which
they can see him. They must. like
Iaccheus. climb into a tree or in some
other ordinary way seek point OF
vantage
The sycamore tree for us Is the
! Bible. From 1t we get our first sight
OF the Master
Hearing and seeing the truth must
precede believing; acquaintanceship
must go before abiding in the house
together We must use the externals
OF religion In order to reach the inter.
nails. We must use the natural modes
provided for the discovery OF the
truth and not look for an immediate
omnipotent act to save us. indepen
IDENTIFY OF our desire and willingness to
see and know the passing Lord
Iaccheus was physically short in
stature and he supplemented his def
cheney by climbing into tree.
We are spiritually OF little stature,
and we must supplement that def
cheney by using some natural point of
vantage. We must get where we can
have view. even II II at first only
a superficial view. as II was In the
case OF Zaccheus.
Standing on the Bible. one has n
higher elevation and clearer view OF
the Lord than any sycamore tree az.
fords. But IL is something more than
a view from point OF vantage that is
needed
Many saw him as he passed by,
never to return. OF what good was
their opportunity II they had no inter.
est or desire to go closer and TO abide
with him.
Many now see him not in the streets
OF Jericho. but in the pages of revela-
ton but to them There is no beauty
in him. that they should desire him, !"
and what availeth IL?
Always Looking for Faithful
Climbing up into tree" and Te
naming there until the Lord has
passed by is a small return for the OPP
portunity enjoyed, when 70 much was
offered to those who would make
haste and come down"
1t is not to be supposed that lac
cheus was the only che who sought q
favorable position to- see the wonder
! fuI sight OF one who was everywhere
attracting the multitudeB TO his pres
ence.
How many or how few ~ such were
Influenced by any higher feeling than
that OF idle curiosity we do NOT know.
but we are sure that oil whose souls
even dimly sought - see who he
really was were not ov erlooked He is
ever and always looking for those
. who are inclined 10 receive him.
40 he acted I'm Iaccheus' case he
will act in every Ike instance Every
one who. from the point OF vantage,
accessible 10 all through the revela.
I tions Of the Holy Scriptures. is seek.
ing 10 see and know who the lord Is
will hear The welcoming words. Make
haste and come down for today I
must abide ~ thy house" Then sure
. ly you will make haste and come down
and receive him joyfully
Iaccheus opened the door u this
house and he abode with him. and this
is ever nis attitude toward men
Behold. I stand at the door. and
knock II any man hear my voice. aud
/ open the door, / viii come i'm TO him
and VIII sup with him. and he with
me-