Chapter 244—Seen and Heard
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the
Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14
.
As a witness for Christ, John entered into no controversy, no wearisome
contention. He declared what he knew, what he had seen and heard. He
had been intimately associated with Christ, had listened to His teachings,
had witnessed His mighty miracles. Few could see the beauties of Christ’s
character as John saw them. For him the darkness had passed away; on him
the true light was shining. His testimony in regard to the Saviour’s life and
death was clear and forcible. Out of the abundance of a heart overflowing
with love for the Saviour he spoke; and no power could stay his words.
He could testify: “That which was from the beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and
our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the Life was manifested,
and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life,
which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have
seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with
us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ”
(
1 John 1:1-3
).
So everyone may be able, through his own experience, to “set his seal to
this, that God is true” (
John 3:33
, A.R.V.). He can bear witness to that which
he himself has seen and heard and felt of the power of Christ. He can testify:
“I needed help, and I found it in Jesus. Every want was supplied, the hunger
of my soul was satisfied; the Bible is to me the revelation of Christ. I believe
in Jesus because He is to me a divine Saviour. I believe the Bible because I
have found it to be the voice of God to my soul.”
How shall we know for ourselves God’s goodness and His love? The
psalmist tells us—not, hear and know, read and know, or believe and know;
but—“Taste and see that the Lord is good” (
Psalm 34:8
). Instead of relying
upon the word of another, taste for yourself. Experience is knowledge derived
from experiment. Experimental religion is what is needed now. “Taste and
see that the Lord is good.”
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