A. T. ROBINSON by A. T. Robinson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 9, 1916

A. T. ROBINSON

By A. T. Robinson

The Light of the World — No. 1

A. T. ROBINSON

THE first direct, positive command ever given by the Creator of this world was, “Let there be light.” Gen. 1:3. This command was given before sin entered this world, before the music of the created universe was ever marred by a discordant note — when “all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Because at that time there was nothing to resist light, fulness of light came into existence — “there was light.”

The command of God, “Let there be light,” pertains not alone to light in the physical realm of man, but to light in the spiritual realm as well. “God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.” John 1:5. Light and life are synonymous terms. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. Therefore to know God, to be connected with his life, is light and life eternal. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3.

God made the sun and its accompanying luminaries in the heavens to be the bearers of physical light to the world. He made the divine Son and his accompanying messengers of light to be the bearers of spiritual light to the world. “Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Matt. 11:27.

After God had created this world and filled it with the light of heaven, sin came, alienating man from the life and light of God, shutting him away from the source of divine life and light. Although man continued to live, and to enjoy, in a measure, physical life and light, the divine sentence, “Thou shalt surely die,” was executed in the very day that man sinned, and he, that very day, passed from life unto death—became “dead in trespasses and sins.” Eph. 2:1. He was then “alienated from the life of God.” Eph. 4:18. He was without hope, “and without God in the world.” Eph. 2:12.

When there was no human eye that could pity, nor any arm that could reach to the depths of man’s lost condition, a ransom was found. “Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” Job 33:24. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

The whole plan of the gospel, through which all who should accept its provisions would be saved, was announced to the world in the statement, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Gen. 3:15.

As soon as that promise was made, the conflict was begun between the forces of light and life, of darkness and death. Many times it has seemed as if the powers of darkness were about to triumph, but in every such crisis the Lord has raised up a standard against the enemy, and preserved and rekindled the flickering spark of light, ere it should go out in eternal night. One hundred and forty-two brief verses of the Inspired Record bring us to the time when God looked down upon this world and saw that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth.” Gen. 6:5, 6. He saw but one lone man in the world of whom he could say, “Thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Gen. 7:1. There was then left but one man in whom the light of life continued to shine. In order to preserve and rekindle the light, the Lord preserved this one righteous man and his family from the old world, which perished in a flood of waters. After the flood, God renewed to Noah the same commission given to Adam in the beginning.

Boulder, Colo.