THE LIGHT OF LIFE by Elder William Covert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 9, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 10.

THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

By Elder William Covert

BY ELDER WILLIAM COVERT.

JOHN, in writing of what Christ is to man, said: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:4, 9. All moral and spiritual light is an emanation from Christ, as truly as is eternal life.

This light leads all who follow it into the realms of life and bliss. It comes to every person who comes into the world, without distinction of race or condition. The heathen in the jungles of Central Africa, and the unconverted professor of literature in the college, both have a longing desire for something better than they have yet experienced. This desire is no more marked in the one than in the other. If properly cherished it leads to fullness of light. Solomon says, "The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18.

This little spark of light that Christ has placed in the heart of every man will be fanned into a blaze by the Spirit of the Lord whenever there is a desire that it should burn. David sang of what the Lord would do for him, saying, "Thou wilt light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." Ps. 18:28. This candle is put in the mind of all by the Lord, that he may light it up, that the true condition of man inwardly may be shown to all who want to see. "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts." Prov. 20:27. It is the reception of the mind of the Lord into the mind of man that kindles that spark into a living flame. It will radiate through every chamber where the door is kept open.

Concerning the union of God's Spirit with man's Paul wrote, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Rom. 8:16. Again: "What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Cor. 2:11, 12. The Lord thus enables the one who receives his Spirit to compare spiritual things with things that are spiritual. "But the natural [unconverted] man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Verse 14.

Jesus himself said of this light, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12. The reader should notice that in order to have the benefit of the light it must be followed. It will not answer to remain listless and idly look at the light. All are required to follow on to know the Lord. Jesus says, "Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." John 12:35. "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." Verse 36. When light comes, then, receive it. Do not wait for more light before accepting what you see. Take what God gives you and then he gives more. The light will pass on and leave you with your face turned toward the darkness of night if you refuse to walk in the light. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. Here, again, please notice that an onward march is required that the light may benefit those to whom it comes. In Heb. 12:2 the Christian is represented as running while he looks to Jesus. David prayed that he might "walk before God in the light of the living." Ps. 56:13. He also said, "With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light." Ps. 36:9. Again he sang: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Ps. 27:1.

When Paul preached Christ at Athens, he showed how ready the Lord is to guide the heathen in his search for the true God:—

"He [God] giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." Acts 17:25-27.

This testimony is wonderful in its presentation of God's willingness to assist the darkened mind in seeking the Lord. God has appointed all their times and habitations that they might seek after him. He has placed himself so near to them that they can find him by just feeling for him, if they are so blind that they cannot see him. He will guide the hand of the blind who grope in the dark hunting for him. But of those wicked who willfully reject the light it is written: "The light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out." Job 18:5, 6. The calamities that shall overtake the wicked after his lamp is put out, are described in the following words recorded in the same chapter: "A noose is hid for him in the ground, and a trap in the way." With his light out, and traveling in the darkness, no wonder that "terrors shall make him afraid on every side and chase him at his heels." But if he should refuse to run, "calamity shall be ready for his halting." The final ending of the chase is described as follows: "He shall be brought before the king of terrors [Satan himself]; brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation, and he shall be chased out of the world." Revised Version.

The above are some of the things that shall befall the wicked. But the condition of the one in whose heart the lamp of the Lord is burning brightly was greatly desired by the patriarch. His prayer was, "Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me; when his lamp shined upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness." Job 29:2, 3. He says that then "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me." "I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I was father to the needy." This light is the radiance of the heavenly world. It drives away the gloom and fills the soul with joy.

But there is yet another class, a people who have not the light of life from the Lord, neither have they tried to quench the little spark placed in the hearts of all since the fall. But they have tried by themselves to kindle into a flame that spark. The prophet, addressing them, says:—

"Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." Isa. 50:11.

All that the Lord can promise those who try to kindle their own fire is that they "shall lie down in sorrow." It requires a live coal off the altar of the Lord to touch and purge the heart and kindle the fire of life that will burn up sin and cleanse from guilt.

How blessed is the light that shines to lighten all the way to heaven! Well might the poet pray:—

"Oh, for that flame of living fire Which shone so bright in saints of old; Which bade their souls to heaven aspire, Calm in distress, in danger bold! "Where is that spirit, Lord, which dwelt In Abram's breast, and sealed him thine? Which made Paul's heart with sorrow melt, And glow with energy divine? "Is not thy grace as mighty now As when Elijah felt its power, When glory beamed from Moses' brow, Or Job endured the trying hour? "Remember, Lord, the ancient days; Renew thy work, thy grace restore; And while to thee our hearts we raise, On us thy Holy Spirit pour."