The Church’s Duty to Bear Light
By Frederick Wheeler
THESE words are a part of that memorable sermon of our Lord on the mount. They were addressed to his disciples, and those who then heard him; but the truth here taught, illustrated and enforced, in the connection, has had, and should have a practical application and influence on the church in every age of the world; and especially on those living amid the closing scenes of the gospel age. God has seen fit in his infinite wisdom, in every age to select his chosen and faithful ones, not only to commit to their care the relation of his will in general, as in the case of choosing Abraham and his descendants, to commit to them the oracles of God, and the knowledge of salvation through a coming Saviour; but has also at different periods, chosen them to bear the present truth to the age in which they lived; and to give warning to the world of approaching destruction; as in the case of Noah and the antediluvians. At the commencement or opening of the gospel dispensation, the same great principle is carried out. When Christ had finished the work of his earthly mission, he laid upon the church the responsibility of bearing the light of the gospel to all the world. The apostles and apostolic church felt the force of our Saviour's words: "Ye are the light of the world," and also of his command, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." They did not conceal the light that had shone into their hearts, by a conformity to the world; but they were living epistles "known and read of all men." 2 Cor. xi, 3. As the apostles went forth proclaiming the gospel, the power of that gospel was seen in the effect it produced in the lives and characters of those who professed to believe it. Theirs was a living faith, made perfect by works. Their light shone forth and men took "knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus." Their one object was to advance the cause of Christ, and save men. To this one object, their property, their lives, their all were consecrated. For this one object alone they lived. Passing down to the closing work of the gospel age we find the same order brought to view in carrying out the great plan of salvation. The gospel of the Kingdom is to be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Matt. xxiv, 6. In Rev. xiv, 6, 12, we have brought to view, Three Angels' Messages through which are proclaimed the hour of his Judgment, and the preparatory work for the harvest of the world. That these Angels symbolize religious teachers acting in connection with the church, is plain from the fact that Christ committed the preaching of the gospel in all the world to men called of God; and the declaration, "Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world," shows that this order was never to be changed. If this position be correct, how fearful the responsibility resting on the church in the closing scenes of time. With what weight should the words of Christ, "ye are the light of the world," come home to our hearts! Has God been leading us into an understanding of the evidences of the second coming of his Son near at hand? Have we felt the power of that coming in our hearts? Have the truth's of these Angels' Messages shone upon us? Does the light of the Third especially now shine upon our pathway? We profess to believe in that solemn Message; and that it is now being given, we have the most positive proof. Who shall hold up the light of this Message to the world? Who shall bear it to those honest souls ready to perish for want of this light? Will those who have no faith in the work? Nay, verily. The responsibility rests on us, whose hearts have felt the power of this truth. "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;" in a place where it can reflect the greatest degree of light. God has not given us the light of present truth, that we should conceal that light, but that we should let it shine before our fellow men. Nor should our efforts or our means be confined to our own immediate vicinity; but wherever there is an opening to spread the truth, so far as we can, we should aid in sending the light there. Says Jesus, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. It is not by words only that we should bear witness to the truth, but by works also. Faith without works is dead being alone. It was said of John Bunyan that he preached his sermons twice: once when he delivered them from the desk, and again when he lived them out in his life. So should we in these last days. While the remnant of the Lord go forth to proclaim the last Message of mercy, and the church witness the same great truth, our lives should tell that the truths of that Message are living realities to us. But is it so? Is there not too much conformity to the world among the remnant? Is it not too often the case, that what might have been a living testimony borne by the church, loses its edge and power by their conformity to the world and worldly-mindedness? My heart is often pained by the sad reflection that the light of present truth is so much buried up. While we profess to be a people living wholly for God and his truth, and expecting soon to receive an inheritance in the earth made new, do not the dress, the conversation and the eagerness with which many engage in the business of the world, tell that to them the truth has lost its power, and instead of being lights in the world, they become causes of stumbling to honest souls on account of the indifferent manner in which they reflect the light of present truth? I speak these things in love; but it appears to me that
"'Tis time we all awake." That a lukewarm state has come over the church, is a fact too plainly seen to be denied. The worldly spirit that is seen, the lack of consecration, and of the spirit and power that marked the early progress of the Third Angel's Message, are too apparent, and tell that it is even so. But I rejoice that the church is beginning to feel their condition and to awake. The exhortation of the faithful and true Witness to be "zealous and repent," is beginning to move them; and there are signs of coming up to the work of the Lord. I look forward with confidence to see a mighty move among the remnant soon, and a more perfect consecration of all to God. Hasten it on, O Lord! is my prayer. The church is compared to a city set on a hill, that cannot be hid. A city that is thus situated is gazed upon by all. If it is beautiful and prosperous, and the citizens quiet and agreeable, then it is looked upon with admiration; but if it presents the opposite appearance, then it is looked upon with disdain by all. Such is the case with the church, the remnant. Our light may be obscured; but we cannot be hid. The world behold us. They know the high and holy profession we have made. They look for us to be a holy people, zealous of good works. They expect to see us live for God and the coming kingdom. O brethren and sisters, let us awake! Let us call up again in our minds the solemn Message of the Third Angel. Let our faith look into the Most Holy of the heavenly Sanctuary, see Jesus there, finishing the last work of his priestly office, and that work soon to close, and that forever. Look again at the condition of our fellow men, rushing madly on to final ruin. See the lovely angel of mercy just ready to take her flight from earth to return no more for ever! See among the mass here and there honest souls seeking after truth, and just ready to perish for want of present truth, the very truth that God has given to the remnant, and laid upon us the responsibility of carrying to them. Hear the faithful and true Witness saying, Be zealous and repent! To you, to all, he speaks. Let us heed his voice and open our hearts that he may come in and sup with us and we with him. Look at these things, I say, and let your hearts be moved! Awake, and shake off that stupidity and indifference! Gird yourselves again for the conflict! Our own salvation, the salvation of our children, and of souls around us just ready to perish, call aloud upon us to awake and lay these things to heart; and shall they call in vain? I trust not. Let these things be felt with their proper weight, and we shall see the church fast approximating towards that state for which we profess to look; viz., a return to the primitive position, when all the gifts and graces shall again be enjoyed that adorned the apostolic church. Then would the righteousness of the church go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. Then would the honest in heart come to the light, and the dishonest recoil from the light, lest their deeds should be reproved. Let the church feel their present position and responsibility as they ought, and there would be no withholding of means needful to carry forward the work. No conformity to the fashions of the world in dress would foster in the heart that very pride which must be rooted out before we can enter into life. No light and trifling conversation would be heard from the lips of any professing present truth, giving countenance to any in their course of vanity and unholy mirth. No pampering of an unnatural appetite in the use of that filthy weed, tobacco, would be seen as a stain upon the church, to weaken the influence of any. No extended arrangements in worldly business would tell that the insinuation of the enemy, "My Lord delayeth his coming," was gaining a place in any heart. No needless habits would be indulged in; no needless self-indulgence allowed. But our bodies would be presented to God a living sacrifice, and we labor to have every thought brought to the obedience of Christ. The exhortation of the Apostle, [2 Pet. iii, 14,] would be heeded: "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of them in peace, without spot and blameless." Paul says, [Phil. ii, 14-16,] "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 are as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain." Rom. xiii, 12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. We should feel that Christ speaks to us, "Ye are the light of the world," and walk as children of the light in deed, adorning our profession constantly by a well ordered life and a godly conversation. And may the time soon come when the church shall come up leaning on her beloved, clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners. FREDERICK WHEELER.
North Brookfield, N. Y., Dec. 24, 1856. P. S. I think of laboring for a season in this vicinity, if the Lord will. My P. O. address for the present is Hubbard's Corners, Madison Co., N. Y.
F. W.