WALK IN THE LIGHT by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 15, 1881

WALK IN THE LIGHT.

By R. F. Cottrell

BY R. F. COTTRELL.

Do YOU cherish the light which God has given? Are you walking in it? Or are you evading the light because you prefer darkness? The light is given for good. Like the divine law it is ordained to life; but by transgression the law is found to be death, and the light that would save, being hated, tends only to condemnation. "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

We may talk of loving the truth; but the test of our love is our obedience. Truth cannot be disregarded and trampled under foot without incurring condemnation. Even in those things we may account trivial, or of little importance, lawlessness is sure to harden the heart and bring condemnation. Small sins, if we may call any sins small, prepare the way for greater. The least departure from the way of life tends to death. But a small distance from the tree of life is found the tree of death; and one sin unrepented and unforgiven must in the end bring death.

The overcomer will have trials to overcome. The conqueror will first feel the fierce rage of his deadly foes; and when the final victory is gained, it will be truly said, Well done. The hearers of the truth and those who love it in word and in tongue only, will not hear those life-giving words. But those who do the truth—walk in the light which God graciously gives—will finally be approved. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."

Let us cherish the light. Let us bring ourselves to it that we may know our case, and not be deceived. Let us walk in it that we may be kept from the hour of temptation. We are about to be tried. Those only who walk in the light will bear the trial and come off victorious.