Your ShelfYour Projects

Untitled article

11%

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 17, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 14

Read the full edition

LIGHT ON OUR PATHWAY.

By GEO. W. PARKER.

“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
“The light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eye to behold the sun.”
The first step taken in the formation of the character of the just, is to become sensible of the wrongs and injuries they have done to God by their past transgressions of his holy law. And with the light shining upon the great original of that law which is declared to be a perfect law, and with this light from the sanctuary shining upon their heretofore darkened understanding, they see that all attempts to make restitution are unavailing, and that if they should ever afterward keep the whole law, it would but be their reasonable service, and as such, would be no atonement for their past transgression. Hence, they must renounce all their dependence upon self. Their dependence, their all, is then centered upon Christ. “The captain of our salvation” has pointed out and led the way; and by faith we can now enter into the Holiest. He hath marked the path in which the just are to tread. They are not to walk at random or pursue their own foolish inventions. It is a plain path, therefore let us not turn aside. It is also a safe path. To prevent wandering, the traveler has a map of the country put into his hand. He has also guardian angels who whisper kind admonitions in the hour of danger; and happy are they who give heed to their warnings.
There are proper stages along the path of the just for the weary travelers to refresh themselves. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;” and those who tread the path, are going forward to a “city of habitations.”
It is encouraging to the young to know that those who take the morning of life and set out early, generally have the most pleasant journey. The progress of the just may well be compared to the morning light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. There was a time when God's children were under clouds of darkness and disappointment. But God said “let there be light, and there was light.” John saw it in vision on the isle of Patmos; and God's faithful remnant saw it when the door of the sanctuary in Heaven was opened and its light began to shine forth and illuminate the sure word of prophecy. The clouds gave way. The disappointment proved a blessing, and the light is growing brighter. As the morning light increases until the noon day, in the same manner will the light of the sanctuary increase; and if we walk in this light it will cause our good works to shine forth.
But there are many differences between the natural daylight and this light which is shining upon the path of the just. In the natural world the sun sets and darkness reigns. But the light of the sanctuary terminates only in everlasting day. “Their sun shall no more go down.” Thus the just have a path prescribed for them to walk in. But all who are living to themselves are wanderers from this path, and transgressors of the law of God, walking in darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Now if the path of the just be as a shining light, let us who profess to be walking in it enquire of ourselves, whether we are advancing. “Forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, let us press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
GEO. W. PARKER.
Chicago, Ill.