Letting Our Light Shine by E. J. BAKER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 14, 1915

Letting Our Light Shine

By E. J. BAKER

E. J. BAKER

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

THESE words were spoken by the One who was and is today the light of the world. They were spoken to those who heard him, and to those who were to be his followers on down through the ages of time.

Therefore they are spoken to us, and these words come to us today more forcibly, if possible, than they did to the disciples in their day, for the reason that the responsibility resting upon this generation to let its light shine is greater than that of any preceding generation.

This generation has the light of preceding generations shining out in the world's history for its benefit. It has God's Word, although in many instances the Word is on trial in the house of its friends. It is being attacked by its enemies as never before—by higher criticism, by the theory of evolution, by new thought, new theology, Spiritualism, scientific investigation, etc. Yet, notwithstanding these facts, God's eternal truth remains the same, yesterday, today, and forever; and in these highly prophetic days, God's Word, that great standard of righteousness, the Book of Truth from the Great Mind of Truth, is shining out brighter and clearer than ever before. Those who are holding to the inspired Word, in order to keep pace with the Book itself must let their light shine in all its strength to glorify the Father.

Light is an evidence of God's presence. If we are in that close touch with

divine grace and power which will enable us to let our light shine, others will see that light, and will realize God's presence in our lives. If we have received the light from the one that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, that light will shine out in our lives, and God will be glorified by those who are won to worship him, through seeing in our lives the light of gospel truth. That will be revealed in our conversation, which at all times and upon all occasions should be pure and holy. It will be seen in our homes, where, as we go in and out before our loved ones, our example and our influence should be good and positive, always on the side of righteousness and truth. It will be seen in our business life, when we come in contact with the people of the world, where every transaction should have written upon it, “Holiness to the Lord.”

In all societies, at home or abroad, in prosperity or adversity, let our light so shine that our lives will be a living witness to the truth of the religion of Jesus Christ. We may stand before the world as a follower of Christ; we may make many professions; we may be diligent in attending all the duly appointed services of the Lord's house; but unless our everyday life is shining out in the beauty, the purity, and the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are not getting out of the gospel what its author intended that we should; and our influence for Christ will be that which will not gather, but scatter abroad.

On the other hand, where the light of Christ has come into a darkened soul, and cleared the darkness away, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, that light cannot be concealed; and where it does not shine, it does not exist.

Those who profess to be followers of Christ, and whose desire for the associations of this world and for finery and dress cause them to live, to act, and to dress like the people of the world, are not letting their light shine to glorify the Father.

We may be eloquent speakers, we may have volumes of words at our command, but unless we are right with God and live right before our fellow men, we cannot be shining lights which will cause others to glorify the Father. After all, it is the life that counts. It is our everyday living that convinces others of the truth of our sincerity in that which we profess. A life hid in Christ, which sets him forth before the world, is a light which will glorify the Father. Surely it is in our daily living that we have the greatest opportunity of letting our light shine to glorify the Father.

If an inventor should come to you and take up one whole day of your time, explaining to you theoretically the working of his invention, he might leave you at the end of the day skeptical as to the practicability of his invention. But if another inventor should in a short time show you a perfect working model of his invention, he could with a few words convince you of its success and practicability.

So it is in regard to the conviction which we carry to others in our lives. It is what the people of the world see of the power of Christ in our lives that convinces them of the truth of his religion. If we are having a good Christian experience, our lives will show it, and to attempt to conceal or to hide our light of Christian knowledge and experience would be to betray our trust and render our lives useless.

The admonition to let our light shine that others may see our good works is not designed to convey the impression that this should be the motive and the principle which prompts us to let our light shine, but the object should be that others seeing our good works may be led to worship the Father, and thereby glorify him. There are many whom we hear spoken of as “shining lights.” There are men and women who stand on the pedestal of fame, at the top round of the ladder in their chosen profession. They are shining lights to the world in the work which they represent. Many in this class, no doubt, are loyal men and women, honest in heart, and some of them are giving their best efforts for humanity. On the other hand, it must be admitted there remains the saddening fact that the great majority of this class are letting their light shine that others may see their good works and glorify them. They are engaged in the great world-wide struggle for wealth, influence, commercial and social power and prestige, or worldly honor and position.

There are shining lights in the different vocations of life, national and private. There are great financiers, the great railroad and steamship magnates, great soldiers, far-seeing statesmen, great political and social leaders, who are masters of the positions in which they stand, who hold the key to the situation, as it were, who are shining lights in the world of finance, society, politics, etc. But what a sad mistake they are making in letting their light shine to glorify themselves. When they pass to the great beyond, their light goes out never to be lit again. It reached its zenith at death, and after death it is soon forgotten. But the light that shines to glorify the Father, continues to shine here upon this earth with ever-increasing brightness, and at death does not go out, but shines on down through the ages of time and into eternity, where it will shine as the stars forever. What a contrast between these results! How much greater the reward to those who let their light shine to glorify the Father.

Let us remember to let our light shine, with the object in view that the Father may be glorified, and that good actions may be seen and lead men to honor God. We may be poor, we may be unlearned and unknown, yet we may let our light shine by doing good deeds, and he who knows the intents and purposes of every heart, never fails to recognize and to reward every effort put forth in his name.

God has many shining lights in this world, and he is placing them in the different parts of this earth to prepare the way for his coming. The recent wars in the Far East have been the means of opening up new doors for these lights to enter. It requires only a few more of them in the dark places, and the work will be finished; then the power will be turned on from the great white throne, and this earth will be flooded with the glory of God, which will be the last message of warning to a perishing world. May God grant that we may all be shining lights for him in the closing scenes of this world's history.

Boulder, Colo.