THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
By J. H. Jowett
“I am the Light.” Then, how very easily entreated He must be! The light needs no coercion—no persuasion to come near to us. We need not shout to the light; the light only seeks an opening, and on getting it, will immediately enter in. The good Lord only waits for an open mind and heart. “If any man open the door, I will come in.” “I am the Light.” Then how difficult it is to drive Him away! If we wish to shut the light out of our rooms, we must not only close the windows and doors, but we must seal up every keyhole and every chink and crevice, or some urgent ray will pierce its way in. The gracious, long-suffering Lord is not easily driven away. He thrusts Himself in upon us wherever there is the smallest opening. “If ye ‘have faith as a grain of mustard seed’—even through that small opening He will come in and work wonders.” “I am the Light.” Then how impartial He must be! The light falls upon the rich man’s orchids, and also blesses the poor man’s box of mignonette. It floods the majestic cathedral; it fills the humble chapel on the lonely moor; it steals through the chinks of a gypsy’s tent. “I am the Light.” Jesus blesses the widow with two mites, and also Zaccheus, “chief among the publicans, and rich.” He makes a friend of Peter, an unlearned fisherman, and of Nicodemus, “a ruler of the Jews.” There is no respect of persons with God. “Truly, the light is sweet.” “Awake! and Christ shall give thee light.” “Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” —Rev. J. H. Jowett, M. A.