WALK IN THE LIGHT by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 5, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 30.

WALK IN THE LIGHT.

By M. C. W.

LIGHT, in a spiritual sense, stands for righteousness and truth. Darkness is error and sin. It is said of those who have embraced the truth of the last days that they are the "children of light, and the children of the day," (1 Thess. 5:5), while those who turn from the word of God are of the darkness and night. In a passage relating to the same time—the last days—the children of evil are those who love not, and therefore receive not, the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thess. 2:9-13. The elect believe the truth. Here we have unrighteousness set opposite the truth.

In John 8:12 Jesus says that he is "the light of the world," that is, as long as he is in the world. John 9:5. He must have been, for he was the manifestation of God, and "God is light." 1 John 1:5. When he left the world, even as before he came, his word was the light of men. The prophecy is light. 1 Peter 1:19. Says the psalmist, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps. 119:105. "For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Prov. 6:23. The word reflects the character of its Giver.

The object of natural light is to reveal and give heat and life. So with God's word. It is a revealer of things within the heart and without the heart. Were it not for the law we would not know sin. "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. It shines in the deepest recesses of the heart; it reveals its base passions, its most secret sins; it manifests its hidden motives. Heb. 4:12. It is "exceeding broad;" nothing escapes its searching power. It also points out the true way. This must be so; for whatever in its own character condemns all evil must of necessity comprehend all good. And this is true of the law of God. God's commandments are righteousness, his law is the truth. Ps. 119:142, 172.

If man had never sinned, the light of the law would have given life. It would have warmed, expanded, and enlarged man's nature till he stood a child of light, with a character like God's character. But man fell into the darkness of sin. The light of the gospel of mercy reaches him, plants in his heart the little seed—enmity to Satan—warms it into life, quickens it by the Spirit, till it springs forth from the barren soil a "new creature." It is the new man, clad not in the garments of sin, but in the righteousness of God. And so he is led on by light, ever increasing as he draws near to God, till the effulgence of the perfect day bursts upon him. He walks in the light of God's law; he is warmed, nourished, and strengthened by the light of God's gospel, the only purpose of which is to bring man into harmony with God's law. Titus 2:14.

But how often men reject God's light and walk in their own light. Millions are going down to destruction led on by their own treacherous will-o'-the-wisp. Many of these profess God's name, and claim to be children of light, while they are walking in the darkness of error and sin, contrary to the law and word of God. Have such fellowship with God? are they children of light?

The Lord through his apostle answers the question. 1 John 1:5, 6. Notice the strength of the apostle's argument. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." This God has revealed. It is an eternal truth. It was true of God before the void of immensity was filled with shining orbs, or a single creature had come from his hand; it will ever remain true. God's law is the reflection of his character. God can only fellowship those who are in the light, who are walking in his law. He is of "purer eyes than to behold evil." Therefore, those who are not walking in obedience to him, but walk in the darkness of sin, "lie and do not the truth." "They profess that they know God [have fellowship and acquaintance with him]; but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1:16.

But if we walk in the light, in the footsteps of Christ, the image of God, if we turn from the darkness of error to the light of truth, if we lay hold of the strength given through our Lord Jesus Christ, "we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. He further gives proof of our acquaintance and fellowship with God in chapter 2:3. "And hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

But we must not understand this darkness to mean the heaviness of soul which often comes to Christians. The Lord permits that to come to try us. "Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith . . . might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6, 7.

Sometimes the Lord will permit darkness to come upon us because of past sins, though we have truly repented. He is trying our faith. The prophet seems to allude to this in Micah 7:8, 9. The light of God's tender mercy may seem to be shut out from us, we may be perplexed as to plans, but the light of moral duty still shines. We may not know what lies before us, the enemy may shut us in on every side, but in the strength of Christ, we need not sin or depart from God. He will dwell with us in the darkness; he is trying our faith. "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Isa. 50:10. Then it is not want of intellectual light or emotional warmth which shuts us away from God; it is moral darkness. Nothing but sin can deprive us of God's fellowship; for it is character and purpose which makes this fellowship. And both character and purpose can be made effectual through the grace of God.

Then "walk in the light as He is in the light" morally. This is ever the privilege of everyone who fears God. At every turn of the way that light may discover some defect of character before unseen; but the same grace which has helped hitherto will enable us to conquer. The same blood of the same mighty Redeemer will cleanse from all sin.

We may gain all the intellectual light possible; this is pleasing to God. It is also our duty to gain light from the prophetic word, light also as regards the great scheme of redemption. But we can never know all this till the finite reaches the infinite. God will not condemn us for this if we have improved opportunities. But if we fail to walk in moral light, we shall fail of eternal life. In moral duties we can "walk in the light as He is in the light." As we tread the path illuminated with the heavenly radiance, it will reveal defects; it will also reveal the remedy in Christ, till at last the perfect day is come, and we stand purified throughout "even as he is pure,"—"without fault before the throne."