THE LIGHT OF LIFE by H. L. Rawson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 25, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 12.

THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

By H. L. Rawson

WHAT is light?—We may answer in a general way, it is the opposite of darkness. Light and darkness are utterly opposed to each other, and can not dwell together. Where darkness reigns, light is absent. When light enters, darkness flees. Again, light is that which enables us to see and know our surroundings, or course of action. “Whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” Eph. 5:13.

All who are not blind recognize these truths in the physical world, and only the mentally blind fail to recognize them in the world of thought. As the sun, the moon, or a lamp is light in the physical world, so wisdom, knowledge, or understanding is light in the mental world.

Many people fail to understand the true source of mental and spiritual light, or to realize what it comprehends. Paul points out the fountain-head of this light when he says that in God, and in Christ, “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Col. 2:2, 3.

In singing the praises of God, the psalmist said, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105. Meditation upon God’s Word, and obedience to its precepts, bring knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, which is true light. Ps. 119:98–100, 104; Prov. 2:1–11. All who sincerely desire this light may have it by seeking it, and allowing it an entrance into their heart. See James 1:5; Ps. 119:11, 130.

As darkness is the opposite of light, so ignorance is the opposite of knowledge. Knowledge of God’s Word is true wisdom, the opposite of which is folly; hence true wisdom, the knowledge of God’s Word, is true mental and spiritual light, while ignorance of God’s Word is folly, and spiritual darkness.

But what is that Word, the fulness of light?—The Bible; “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16), through holy men (2 Peter 1:21). That Word is the expression of the will of God. It came to man by Christ (1 Peter 1:8–11), and he is the Word incarnate. See John 1:1–3, 14; Eph. 3:9–11. The Word and Christ are inseparable. The Word is in Christ, and the Spirit of Christ is in the Word. 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 1 Peter 1:10, 11. We receive the Word by faith, and thus bring Christ into the heart. John 17:8, 21–23; Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:17–19.

Since “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hid in Christ, and “all the fulness of the Godhead” dwells in him (Col. 2:9), Christ is the true mental and spiritual light in its fullest sense. See John 1:9; 1 John 1:5. Christ in the heart is the source of the Christian’s light, and the living power of that light is the life of Christ. That light of living power is the life of the Christian (John 8:12; Rom. 8:2; John 17:3), and all who have not a true knowledge and understanding of the Word of God are in darkness, are alienated from the life of God which is in Christ, and are subject to death. See Eph. 2:1–18; 4:17–24; Jude 10–12; John 3:19. When Christ the Light is in the heart, all the wisdom, all the knowledge, all the power, all the righteousness, and the life of God are ours. 1 Cor. 1:24–30; Matt. 28:18. All that remains for us to do is to exercise them by faith; for “all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23. Wonderful thought! Finite comprehension can not fully grasp it; and, alas! very few realize that it is true.

But when we have received the light, we must walk in it (by obedience) or the light we have will become darkness to us. John 12:35; Luke 11:34, 35. The heathen who are now in such dense spiritual darkness, became such by failing to follow in the light they had. Rom. 1:20–32. And many people to-day are doing the same thing, with the same result. They do “not like to retain God in their knowledge,” and will not receive the light, “lest their deeds should be reproved.” John 3:19, 20. Such persons will seek light concerning God and the future, from human reason, from Spiritualistic mediums (emissaries of Satan), and from any source except the true one, viz., Christ, through the Bible. Instead of Christ, they receive Satan into the heart, whose presence brings darkness to them. Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 4:3, 4; Matt. 13:24–28, 38, 39. And because they love not the truth, they will believe a lie. 2 Thess. 2:11, 12.

Those who really love the truth, come to the light that they may learn the character of their deeds (John 3:21), and gain a true knowledge of God and the future. God has promised such that they “shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. They do not at first comprehend all the light, but they will grow in knowledge, or light, till the “perfect day.” 2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:18. They will see light and glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6), shining in all of God’s Word. The commandments of God will not be a dead letter to them, but full of light and life. See Prov. 6:23. Then they will say with the Master, “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” Ps. 40:8. The prophecies of the Bible will be precious to them, as “light that shineth in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19), till the day of Christ shall dawn. They will see that all things brought to view in “the Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:1) are understood at the proper time, and must be observed (verse 3). They will know that none who reject God’s final message of warning can hope to be saved. See Rev. 14:9–11. They will joyfully walk in the light as Christ is in the light (John 1:7), and, beholding the glory in the face of the Lord, will be changed into his image from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:21). They will be among that happy number to whom the Lord will give eternal life (1 John 2:25), and will see Jesus, their beloved Master, as he is (1 John 3:2); for to such the Lord has said, “I will come again, and receive

you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3.

To those who scorn his message, and reject the light, but one result can come, in the very nature of things, even that which God has decreed, everlasting destruction, shame, and contempt (2 Thess. 1:9; Dan. 12:2), in blackness of darkness (Jude 10–13). Reader, which will you choose, darkness or the light?

H. L. RAWSON.

[The writer earnestly requests the reader to carefully study the texts referred to, for in them is light and life.]