N. ORCUTT by N. Orcutt

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1874

N. ORCUTT

By N. Orcutt

Light.

“LET your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matt 5: 16.

We have in this admonition of the dear Saviour the power of example impressively set before us. Susceptible of being influenced ourselves, we have also been made capable of exerting an influence over others for good or evil—a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. In the light of this truth, our responsibility to obey is clearly seen.

The divine radiance which emanates from the Father, who “is light, and in him is no darkness at all,” and from the Son, who is “the light of the world,” has illumined our path, and we are privileged to occupy an exalted position, to engage in an exalted work, bearing the divine effulgence amid the darkness which prevails, and extending its influence in every possible way. While we would not undervalue the importance of letting our light shine by precept, by preaching, or by the printed page, we should realize that our most powerful influence to scatter and dispel darkness, or to deepen and thicken its somber cloud, lies in the example set before our fellows. In walking closely in the steps of our great Pattern lies our strength—our power to exert a gathering influence. Failing to do this, words, eloquent though they be, are powerless to counteract our influence for evil.

And how little we are able to realize the extent of our influence in either case. If the light we bear, reaches and dispels the darkness from some honest heart, thence it goes to others, and like the wave, caused by casting the stone in the quiet waters of the lake, which enlarges its circle until it reaches the shore, so the final result of our influence can only be computed when the wave reaches the shore, when the good are gathered and the bad cast away. On the other hand, if in conformity to the practices of the world, or those who are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,” we lower the standard, and allow it to trail in the dust, the solemn scenes of the Judgment alone can make known the fearful extent of our responsibility.

It may be in some humble sphere in our own dwelling that we fail to let our light shine, that we refract rather than reflect the rays that emanate from the throne of the Infinite. But some one, influenced by our example, following in our footsteps, instead of in the bleeding footprints of our only Pattern, our only sacrifice, our only hope, gives the example more prominence, perhaps in the district school-house then others from this go a step further, and we have the same introduced in our houses of worship; and thus the silent yet potent influence goes out broadcast. We suffer present loss, the Spirit is grieved, we lose our power to influence our fellows for good, the light that was in us becomes darkness; and “how great is that darkness.”

How fearful the danger of the slightest departure or deviation from the straightness of the path where the light shines! The departure from the faith and simplicity of the gospel has usually been gradual. And in this we should see our danger, and be warned of the importance of adhering closely to, and standing stiffly and uncompromisingly for, the right. It is “the little foxes that spoil the vines.” Oh! let us diligently exclude them from the vineyard, for we know not the fearful consequences that may result if they are permitted to have access to the “tender grapes.” Watching, praying, working, let us gather up every ray that emanates from the Father’s throne, and ever bear the precious legacy, brighter than golden coronet, to our fellows, and thus heed the admonition, for our benefit and instruction given: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”