The Light of Men by W. M. Batterson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 9, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 41.

The Light of Men.

By W. M. Batterson

By W. M. Batterson.

"IN Him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:4. "Thy word is a . . . light unto my path." Ps. 119:105. "The Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1. "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all," while all men "are by nature the children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3), and "walk in darkness" (Isa. 9:2).

That the light of the knowledge of the glory of God might shine into hearts thus darkened (2 Cor. 4:6), Jesus came a revelation of God to the world (John 14:9); His life was the light of men (John 1:4); and the record of that life which in mercy God has given us (John 1:14) leaves no one an excuse for walking in darkness, "for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," and since "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all," in Jesus was embodied all the light of the world. God's revelation of Himself in Jesus was a complete one. It follows then that everything embodied in the life of the Son of God is light to the world; anything outside that life would necessarily be darkness; anything taken away from that life would be taking away light, anything added to it would be adding darkness.

In that life was Sabbath rest or observance (Luke 4:16; John 15:10), from the creation of the world (Gen. 2:3), for He was in the world and the world was made by Him (John 1:10); and when He had made the world He rested on the seventh day, and made the Sabbath (Mark 2:27), for "without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3). Therefore Sabbath keeping, being in Him, is light.

It may be, my dear brother or sister, that you may not have seen this light before, and yet have enjoyed His blessing, for while we walk in the light earnestly and sincerely the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). This also makes it necessary that any light from His life that comes to us be received into our lives, for "if we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 John 1:6), and will be classed with those who love darkness rather than light, which Jesus says is condemnation. John 3:19.

To uphold Sunday observance in preference to the Sabbath is simply to deny that God's revelation of Himself is complete, and declare that the light of the life of the Son of God, the Word made flesh, is insufficient and imperfect. He says, "I am the light of the world." O, why turn away from the light from heaven to walk in the sparks of men's kindling? Sunday sacredness, being outside His life and God's revelation, an added thing, is not light but darkness.

In the grace that angels desire to look into (1 Peter 1:11, 12), God has purposed to reveal His Son (Gal. 1:16) and thus Himself to the world thru those who would follow Jesus. "Ye are the light of the world." But the mystery of the Gospel is that Christ will come into our hearts to live again (Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:17; 2 Cor. 1:3-5). "He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." Heb. 13:8. To become lights in the world, to reveal Him in all His fulness, He necessarily must be permitted to bring into our lives what was in His life. He left us an example that we should follow His steps. 1 Peter 2:21.

"Why halt ye between two opinions," timid, doubting one? Why be frightened or blinded by the talk of those who exalt themselves above all that is called God or worshiped, by rejecting the light of His life who was the express image of His Father's person? Heb. 1:3. That it is safe to follow Him none dare deny. But "cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm." "Fear God, and give glory to Him." For His name's sake who shed His blood for you, and who stands at your heart's door knocking, for the sake of your own soul and the souls who are looking to you for light, invite Jesus to come in in all His fulness. Turn away from the darkness of men's traditions, for "he that walketh in darkness knoweth not wither he goeth" (John 12:35), and follow Him who says, "If any man follow Me, he shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).