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Champions for Truth
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those who stand in defense of unpopular truth. Elijah was declared
a troubler in Israel, Jeremiah a traitor, Paul a polluter of the temple.
From that day to this, those who would be loyal to truth have been
denounced as seditious, heretical, or schismatic.
The confession of faith made by saints and martyrs, those ex-
amples of holiness and steadfast integrity, inspires courage in those
who are now called to stand as witnesses for God. To the servant of
God at this time is the command addressed: “Lift up thy voice like
a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house
of Jacob their sins.” “I have set thee a watchman unto the house of
Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn
them from me.”
Isaiah 58:1
;
Ezekiel 33:7
.
The great obstacle to the acceptance of truth is the fact that it
involves inconvenience and reproach. This is the only argument
against the truth which its advocates have never been able to refute.
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But true followers of Christ do not wait for truth to become popular.
They accept the cross, with Paul counting that “our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory”; with one of old, “esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.”
2 Corinthians
4:17
;
Hebrews 11:26
.
We should choose the right because it is right, and leave conse-
quences with God. To men of principle, faith, and daring, the world
is indebted for its great reforms. By such men the work of reform
for this time must be carried forward.
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