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The Quest for a Standard There has ever been a longing for truth on any subject of interest. Webster’s dictionary tells us truth is faithfulness to a standard. But how can a standard be defined? No one questions, for example, that a foot is twelve inches in length and that a pound is sixteen ounces in weight. There is a standard to determine this. There are multitudes of other standards to determine truth in all areas, universally accepted, having to do with this life. But what of our beginning, our origin? What do we look forward to, hope for, after this life? We consider ourselves pretty well in charge as we are now. But after death, what then? If we can believe Jesus Christ will come to receive us, then to judge us, what will be the basis of judgment? The Standard There was a time when people had no standard but their own conscience, or natural sense of right and wrong, Romans 2:12-15. Their ancestors had rejected God when they could have known him, Romans 1:20-30. In the beginning God drove Adam and Eve from the garden because they rejected his standard. Their son Cain did likewise and killed Abel his brother, Genesis 4. His succeeding lineage did also and it was only when Seth was born that “men began to call on the name of the Lord,” Genesis 4:26. Noah was perfect for his times and obeyed god by listening to him, Genesis 6:22. The story of the world’s plunge into sin, with God’s judgment in the flock and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, and the righteousness of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and David, marks the larger portion of God’s dealing with his people in earlier time. The great lesson here is that God always blessed those who obeyed him, though small in number, and punished all who were disobedient. The Standard in Writing Though God spoke to his people by voice, he also caused his will to be written in a book. One of the greatest activities of the times was assemblies of God’s people to hear the reading of his law. God never let them forget the importance of reading and obeying his will. This was the very essence, the substance of his relationship with them and their hope of his favor, blessings, and eventual reward. Our Standard Today God has not always spoken to man in the same way. He spoke directly and audibly to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and others He also spoke by dreams, visions, and prophets. We learn from Hebrews 1:1 that now he speaks to us by Jesus Christ. When Jesus sent the apostles to preach, he told them not to think what to say. The Holy Spirit would give them the words. Matthew 10:18, 20. Later, in the shadow of his death, he told the same apostles he was going away and the Holy Spirit would come and bring to their remembrance all he taught. ‘John 14:26. They spoke these words to the lost of the world and reached the uttermost of every person in their generation. Colossians 1:23 The record of their work was written in the Bible, by the apostles and those to whom they transferred the gift, Acts 8:14,15 and Romans 1:11. As this was being done and the written word was circulated, they were all exhorted to read, Ephesians 3:1,2 and Timothy 4:13 and Col. 4:16. The written word was as valid of the Holy Spirit as the spoken word, because it was the spoken word written down. “That which was perfect had come.” So today and since the last apostle died, we have the complete word and will of God in the Bible. When we read the Bible, we listen to God. Christ, his son is identified with the word, John 1:1. Frank Driver
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