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Day Six: Two Kinds of Truth

Water and rock both symbolize the power of Divine truth in our lives. Water and rock illustrate two different kinds of truth – two different stages of our faith and trust in the Lord. We see these meanings illustrated in the physical uses of these objects. A rock is for building things: a solid wall, a tall tower, a strong shelter and a foundation. But it doesn’t give life; you cannot drink a rock. Water, however, can bring life, just as the sea brought forth living creatures in the creation story. If you are dying of thirst, just one cup of water will revitalize every cell in your body.

The first state of our faith in the Lord is rock–like: a time of learning truth, of building ideas from the Lord’s Word. Early faith is formed in a cognitive frame of mind. It can build a solid wall of argument based on scripture. Each stone is put in its place to give strength to the whole. This rock–like faith can be a hard and firm principle that we hold to. The command, "You shall not steal," can be a rock to stand on when we compel ourselves. While rock–like truth can give us strength, it doesn’t necessarily touch our hearts, and it doesn’t always seem to have application to our lives. Rock–like truths can be seen and obeyed, but they are not always felt. We may find that parts of the Lord’s Word seem to have little meaningful application for our lives when we read them. Yet the Lord still commands us to gather these stones of truth into our minds. Of themselves, these stones of truth can seem cold, barren and lifeless, but they are a foundation and beginning for spiritual growth.

On the journey of life, these stones yield a more living faith when we come into times of spiritual thirst. Spiritual thirst is a longing for direction and purpose. When we come to a crossroads on the journey, and we cry out to the Lord, "Which way should I go? What should I do?" For a while it seems as if the Lord will not answer us. Our faith may seem cold and useless. But in that struggle, in the very act of searching, we allow the Lord to bring water from the rock. When we look for the good in those truths that seem to be just barren stones in the wilderness, they pour forth living water to quench our thirst for comfort and direction.

It is important that we recognize that life is like this, with ups and downs. When we move forward we won’t have all the answers, and the answers we do get may seem bitter, hard to swallow or difficult to implement. We need to look forward to the good they lead to, and they will become sweet and flowing. As the Psalmist writes: "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.... How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:97,103)

Key Point
The Writings talk about different ways that truth can be seen in the world. Understanding the qualities of objects that symbolize truth is one of the many ways to understand the various aspects of truth.

Reflections
Is there a truth in your life that at one point was rock like (hard, intellectual) that is now living water (providing nourishment, comfort, life, heartfelt)?

In relationships with other people, do we offer living truths or hit them over the head with hard truths? The Lord’s message for us is comforting. Do we offer other people comforting messages?

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Discussion Board
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