CARRYING THE LIGHT by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 5, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 35.

CARRYING THE LIGHT.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Who has not seen a little child attempt to grasp a handful of sunshine? It would close its hand in the sunlight, and would manifest great surprise when it found, on opening its hand in the shade, that the sunshine had escaped. We are amused at the simplicity of the child, unmindful of the fact that we ourselves often manifest less wisdom in a similar case of far more importance.

For instance, we have learned that the word of God is light. We perhaps believe that if we only have that word we shall have light; and so we make attempts to seize and hold it. When the word is spoken with great clearness, people often jot down the thoughts in their notebooks, and make a special note of the text of Scripture that was referred to, in the hope of carrying the light away with them. But when they have gone to their homes, and have opened their books, they are surprised to find that the light does not shine forth. They thought to show the light to their friends, but it has fled even as the sunshine from the hands of the little child. This time we are not amused, for the case is too serious for amusement.

In each case the desire was most laudable. To “catch the sunshine” is one of the most necessary things. To wish to carry it to others is a blessed thought. The child does catch and carry the sunshine, but in a different manner from what it thinks. Living in the bright sunlight, it takes up the life-giving rays in its blood, and they are manifested in rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes, sturdy limbs, and a cheerful spirit. It carries the sunshine in its life, and carries it to others, too, because “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” The difference between a child who lives in the sunshine and one who lives altogether in the shade is manifest to every one who sees them. The child of the shade can not by an occasional run into the sunlight gather up a supply of sunshine in its hands and pockets to distribute to others. There is no other way of carrying sunshine than in the blood.

Even so it is with the light of the word of God. We can not carry it in our hands, nor in our pockets, nor even in our mouths. Light is life, and there is no way of carrying it except in life. “But of the heart are the issues of life;” and we are told, “These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Deut. 6:6. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Col. 3:16. When the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness are received and absorbed into the life, there will be no difficulty in carrying them to others.

Of Christ it is said, “In him was life; and the

life was the light of men.” John 1:4. The life of Christ is the only true light, for he says, “I am the light of the world.” John 8:12. Since there is no light except in the life of Christ, it is most evident that no man can carry that light except by having the life itself. So Jesus say, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” We may “walk in the light as he is in the light,” and not only so, but we ourselves may be lights. Indeed, we are expected to be lights. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” Eph. 5:8. Also, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Phil. 2:14, 15.

The sun shines without an effort because it is light. Christ shines because he is light itself. His life is light and his word is life. Therefore whoever receives that word into his heart and life, will shine with the same light, and with no more conscious effort than the sun itself makes. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” E. J. W.