Matthew 5:15, commentary and pictures

Christ's hearers would understand a lighted lamp set on its stand to shine to everyone in the one-room house rather than covered under a vessel or bed. The light is Christ Himself and His righteousness, divine living truth and the gospel in the Word, and obedience to God's law in its breadth including the Sabbath. It is not their own but heaven's light received by living connection with Jesus and constantly replenished by the Holy Spirit, which transforms the heart into His image and cannot be helped from shining. Those who receive it are to shine openly through good works, holy character, kind hopeful speech, love and unity, beginning most strongly in the home and through the church as God's appointed light-bearer amid moral darkness. To hide it is to cover it by narrow plans, worldly cares and business, mere profession without life, or fear and compromise, so every soul knowing truth must impart it at once by teaching, service, means and publications until the house, which is the world, is enlightened.

Image Words and Setting

The saying belongs to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 4-5, spoken especially to the disciples but within hearing of the gathered multitude, as part of the blessings and sayings of the great Teacher. It is to be studied for His conflicts and victories and the character of His teaching, and to be read, believed and practiced as bread of life which came down from heaven, with preconceived opinions laid aside and truth expounding truth, irrespective of financial standing, losses or gains. Together with the rest of the chapter it is enough that not a soul would be lost, changing the life and developing Christlikeness, inwroughting divine principles in the heart as if written with the finger of God, so that neither lion's den nor fiery furnace nor loss of favor, honors, position or reputation can intimidate into denying truth, for to live is to obey the word of Christ and to die for truth is gain. The blessings on the mount are full of deep meaning and every symbol has value, yet many claiming to be Christians bring them only dimly into practical experience, whereas God's messengers are to see their real value, understand the true position they occupy, and when proved and tried work them out in life as wonderful golden treasures giving knowledge of highest value and experimental understanding. The chapter's words are worth frequent reflection, giving clear expression of God's will to guide believers to represent Christ in words, attitudes and actions, and forming part of the practical teaching of Matthew 5:10-20 to be kept before those who receive the message and lived out as they share truth.

The chapter reveals the truth about God's laws and government, teaching the far-reaching principles and demands of His law, and the state of the heart as regulating life and character, so that impressing these principles on new converts is the greatest and most difficult lesson without which labor is lost. It opposed the doctrines of the scribes and Pharisees and corrected their misrepresentation of God, revealing His true character and restoring confidence in His love. It presents the principles of God's law as principles to be lived in practical life, with followers as the light of the world shining through good works that lead people to glorify the Father in heaven, and when they disobey the commandments Christianity loses power and fails to reveal Christ's character. Christ's teaching is a light amid the darkness of error, and the truths of the Sermon on the Mount have continued to guide and give a sure foundation for faith and practice, stated in plain language understandable even to the poor and unlearned.

The figure uses the familiar daily sight of a single lamp on its stand in the lowly one-room dwellings of peasants and fishermen, placed where intended to give light to everyone in the house rather than hidden under a container or under a bed, chosen so hearers would recall the words whenever they saw it. As the sun goes forth dispelling night and awakening the world to life, so followers are to go forth diffusing heaven's light upon those in darkness of error and sin, letting light shine before men in good works that lead them to glorify the Father in heaven. Light hidden beneath a bushel can shine only within the bushel's limits, and hidden beneath a bed it cannot light the room, but placed on a candlestick it gives light throughout the house, teaching that truth must be presented openly with room to reach people rather than confined by narrow plans and inadequate arrangements. So light should be placed where it can illuminate the whole house, not hidden or placed too low to shine, calling for a broad, elevated public witness that shows the message's importance and helps people receive the light God intends, with resources supporting that work to the whole world including foreign fields rather than keeping it concealed.

Applied to the church, members are living stones each to reflect light in the place suited to them, cut away from the world by truth and brought into the Lord's workshop to be shaped by ax, hammer and chisel and polished like rough misshapen stones until each fits its exact place in the building, emitting light as a completed temple showing preparation for a home in the kingdom. The house that the lighted candle lights is the world, God's house and vineyard, so the light of truth must reach people throughout the world, especially neglected parts of the field, rather than being confined to established centers or a small field, with centers founded in cities radiating to surrounding regions and broad efforts carrying the message to cities, villages and nations. It includes the literal home and the converted person's own family and household, even where other members remain worldly and selfish and refuse truth heard, where giving light to all means letting truth possess heart, mind, will and affections, living purified through obedience, filled with love and the Spirit. Such shining wages inch-by-inch warfare against darkness, stirs and breaks the former false peace, and brings collision, strife and bitter opposition from enemies of righteousness, yet the bearer gains victory in every contest by relying wholly on a higher power, shedding light by good works as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph and Moses did and as Israel was designed to do. Hiding the light instead comes from an evil heart of unbelief controlled by Satan, shown either in following heathen practices or in shutting away in proud exclusiveness as if God's love were for His people alone.

The sanctuary lamp represented God's church to give light to the world, with Israel chosen to represent the great light that was never to go out. The instruction given to John was to be sent to the churches and taught, believed and preached to the world, not hidden, including the three angels' messages and warnings for the last days to be proclaimed openly, with those hiding them answerable to God for failing to warn. The Jewish nation neglected to let its light shine, and that unfaithfulness brought suffering when Jerusalem was destroyed. Geneva's publications and teachers carried the light of Reformation truth to other lands, and reformers finding refuge there returned home to spread it and resist Rome's tyranny.

Identity of the Light

The light is living truth, the Word of God as life and salvation, the saving truths of Scripture and the gospel as good tidings of great joy whose promises enlighten the soul. Those who believe it make it known by words and works that carry pure principles of truth and holiness to win others, and they must live up to the light received or face judgment. Those who know God's truth must not keep it hidden but work as missionaries warning neighbors and friends, bringing saving truth to those who do not understand what is coming and leading souls from sin to righteousness. The gospel acted out in life keeps poor, sin-hardened souls from perishing, while a profession that does not reveal Christ is valueless like savorless salt.

The light that dispels moral darkness in homes and communities is not self-originated, not human intellectual light, pomposity, self-righteousness, or supposed advancement, and no one gives light by walking in sparks of his own kindling. All true light is from Christ as the Light and Life of the world, kindled in those who receive Him, who Himself becomes their light and life, holiness and sanctification. One who receives Christ's righteousness by faith becomes a new creature and a light to the world, and that imputed righteousness is to shine through professed followers. Christ came forth from the Father as the Light openly giving light to all, His words of truth flowing with freshness and power as new revelation spoken with authority on every subject, revealing every essential truth with unfaltering certainty, uttering nothing fanciful, sentimental, sophistical, probable, humanly quoted, delusive, idle, or falsely theorized, but only established principles of personal knowledge dwelling on unchangeable Bible positions and unfolding precious gems. His light shines through those who stay close to Him in righteous words and actions as bearers helping those in error, honored by obedience and sharing, and His life expressed in conduct is meant to shine within the home and through every part of life. Received from Him and imparted in all good works, it acts everywhere as salt of the earth, a preserving power saving all that is good and destroying all that is evil.

The light shines through good works that lead people to glorify the Father, openly displayed for all around rather than hidden, belonging with doing and teaching even the least commandments and with a righteousness exceeding outward religion, for Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfil them. The light is the law of Jehovah in its exceeding breadth and extended character, revealed by Christ as old light in new settings within the framework of the gospel in a light not comprehended before and essential to have, a revealing that brings resistance because it does not harmonize with misconceived ideas and human exactions built around the law. Shining means upholding God's law instead of voiding it by tradition and teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, for till heaven and earth pass not one jot or tittle shall pass till all be fulfilled, leaving no excuse for any power to change it. Whoever breaks one of the least commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom, but whoever does and teaches them shall be called great, and except righteousness exceed that of scribes and Pharisees none shall enter the kingdom. Keeping the Sabbath as the sign that God sanctifies His people is Bible sanctification and part of this shining, and those who have received greater light in the claims of God's law have greater duty to spread it through Christlike lives to save souls.

The light is the last warning message and the good works that cause men to glorify the Father, to be carried to unworked fields and cities with diligent follow-up of awakened interest so many receive truth and support the work, as in Memphis and New Orleans. God's people are light-bearers because they have received light from His word, and they let it shine by proclaiming the first, second, and third angels' messages as a warning to the world. Applied to the third angel's message and present truth, putting the candle on the stand means proclaiming it openly and clearly so it reaches everyone in the household. Those who know truth for this time must take it from under the bushel and reveal the divine treasure in life, speech, and purity of heart, using talents to the limit, advancing in spirituality, warning cities of soon-falling judgments, making truth known to those who know it not, cooperating with God and heavenly agencies, and letting Christ's sacrifice shine in saving grace and righteous works to win souls, since mere profession of godliness and belief in the soon coming is not enough. Hiding it for personal comfort or church privileges wastes energy, perverts talents, draws souls from truth, imperils the soul, weakens spiritual faculties for lack of exercise, and leaves the negligent without excuse under judgment, so the message must be carried from village to village and city to city and from place to place worldwide to all who will hear.

The light is the disciples' God-given influence as they humbly carry the gospel through the world, receiving and obeying God's Word making them powerful to bless others like a lamp on a stand lighting everyone in the house. That light is the life of piety, goodness, truth, mercy, and love, truth revealed in character and conduct, and the gospel's reaching power depends on personal piety, every one called from darkness to show God's praise. It represents the cheerfulness and happiness to be reflected, and the talents and goods entrusted by the Lord to be used wisely to bring people to knowledge of the truth, every family aiming to be a light. It is influence and service expected according to ability, members enlightening and blessing others with divine aid, and all the light given, every ray and every important truth, is to be diffused by men and women bringing all capabilities and education into missionary work to honor God.

The light is meant to be placed where it benefits everyone in the house, and in this application it is the public teaching and consistent practice of health-reform principles made known rather than hidden. Knowledge from God is a light to be improved and used, and refusing it rejects a means provided for physical and spiritual life. Health reform is to be taught by instruction and quiet consistent example, brought into clear view and followed openly through faithful practice and testimony. Those enlightened by truth must let it reach others and hiding it is a serious mistake, applying to the church's responsibility to share spiritual and health knowledge with a world in physical and spiritual need.

Receiving and Keeping Light

The light on the stand is not the followers' own but heaven's light shining through them to dispel the moral darkness of a sinful world. It is received directly from Jesus through a living connection with Him, and as they draw near and behold the Saviour they receive His light in righteous words and works. Beholding Him changes mind and heart into His image, so that shining follows naturally and cannot be helped. Their life-work is then to direct sinners to God and by well-developed, harmonious Christian character to awaken high views of the purity of religion, becoming the salt of the earth and its saving power.

Believers have no light in themselves and cannot fill themselves, for their hearts cannot reflect light until vitally connected with heaven. That heavenly fire makes them burning and shining lights that burn steadily with holy, unselfish love for Jesus and for all purchased by His blood. They must be constantly replenished with the golden oil, which is the Holy Spirit and the abiding love of God in the heart, or the flame will die and the light go out. The tiniest lamp kept replenished and sending forth bright beams that expose darkness is of far more value than a large lamp that flashes brilliantly for a time, then sputters out and leaves souls in darkness to stumble.

Light comes directly from Jesus as His followers believe in Him and obey His words, and as their witness shines others may be added to the light. When a light grows dim or goes out there is loss, while brighter, far-reaching witness brings rejoicing, with influence reaching far beyond sight or knowledge. If the world comes between the church and Christ the light grows dim, leaving people facing temptation and danger without guidance and possibly lost for lack of it. Each Christian must therefore keep the light burning through faithfulness, heavenly wisdom, cheerfulness, courage, and good works that dispel ignorance, superstition, and spiritual darkness.

Truth must first be planted in the heart, for the Holy Spirit takes truth from God's Word and impresses it on the soul where it shapes the whole life. So fashioned after Christ's likeness, the person is used by the Holy Spirit rather than using the Holy Spirit, putting on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. The Spirit thus forms God's character within, developing love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, without vain glory, provoking, or envying. That inward work then appears in words, actions, and business dealings, making the Christian a light amid moral darkness that restrains sin, reveals God's glory, lights the way to the Bridegroom's home and the marriage supper of the Lamb, and helps restore the spiritually sick and perishing.

God gives more light to those who walk in the light already received and hold firmly to His Word and truth whose light shines until the close of earth's history. Sharing does not diminish the light but increases and brightens it, bringing wider influence and more light and power as followers give the riches of grace and grow in grace. Light grows dim when unused or not used as God directs, and failing to share diminishes it, endangers the soul, and withholds help so the lost may remain unrecovered. Failing to walk in plainly revealed will separates from God, with darkness following in proportion to rejected light, while putting light into practice in dark places brings transformation of character and further grace.

Even a small light must shine because God gave it and holds each person responsible to let it shine forth rather than hiding it. When Christ dwells in the heart His presence cannot be concealed, and the light grows brighter as selfishness and sin are dispelled, with good works making it visible so others glorify God. One person's light can kindle another's taper, and that newly lit light can then lead still others out of darkness to hope and salvation. Faithful use of gifts, limited opportunities, and communicated truth thus brings others to the light through Christ, and believers become lights only after discipline, leaving spiritual darkness, recognizing need, seeking the Source, unlearning old habits and errors of mistaken education, and living by truth with steadfast purpose and moral independence.

Shining Through Life

The lamp is set where it can shine, not hidden under a container, and those who follow Christ are to let the light received from Him be openly seen through good works that lead others to glorify the Father in heaven. That open showing comes through obedience to God's Word, which makes the light shine clearly as lives reflect God's love to those around them. Keeping His commandments, representing Jesus in a way contrary to the spirit of the world, and giving evidence of a changed heart are how the light is made visible to everyone in the house.

Example and action are to guide others toward righteousness, and defective character obscures the light of truth and turns people away from it while exemplary lives marked by holiness attract others to investigate and embrace its principles. Followers reveal dangers in the sinner's path and point toward righteousness and safety, but defective conduct blocks the light and makes the way seem darker. The light is to appear in business life and ordinary dealings through honesty, uprightness, steadfast fidelity, neatness, modesty and order, when souls are imbued with heaven's principles so that contact with the world reveals the light within. It is not given by trying to shine, and any self-satisfied display of superior goodness is disapproved; patient, kind, steadfast, God-fearing conduct illuminates others without seeking attention.

Good things brought from the heart make the light shine to people in darkness, while foolish talk and evil words darken both speaker and hearers and weaken Christian influence. The light must be sustained by the grace of Christ, for neglected it grows dim and dies out. Kind, cheerful, hopeful speech in pleasant, agreeable, kind tones comforts, encourages, strengthens faith and helps others withstand moral darkness, while discourteous and rough speech drives holy angels away in sadness. Spreading doubt, suspicion, discouragement, criticism and gossip about the failings of others makes a person a channel of darkness and turns others from the truth, whereas talking more of Christ's merits, humble prayer, and words and thoughts of hope, courage, light and love build spirituality and let love grow.

Bible truth is to be set like a lamp on a stand so it gives light to all in the house, and for fathers and mothers this light must shine forth in clear, distinct rays first and most strongly from the home. The home is the school where parents and children gain preparation for the home above, imbued with the influence of the Holy Spirit through kind and helpful words, restraint of mind, tongue and voice, subdued voice, wise judgment, and love, honor and respect between husband and wife. When sanctification of the truth begins in the parents, children receive the help of Christian practice and show it in their own lives, and the holy influence formed in the home is carried into the church, to neighbors, to school life and beyond. A wife and mother who is the light lets it shine by staying with husband and children, caring for her own small plot at her own door, and training children with loving, diligent care and instruction in safe paths; leaving the precious little flock to become demoralized and hardened while doing religious work for others elsewhere is letting the light shine in a wrong way altogether. Letting that light go out leaves those in the household in darkness and dishonors the Saviour, while a consecrated life showing outward actions that reveal inward grace makes husband and wife united in truth a blessing to those around them and the only way to grow into assurance and solidity of faith.

The life-work of believers is to reflect heaven's light to the world, direct the minds of sinners to God, awaken in worldlings high and elevated views of the purity of Christian religion, and by a well-developed Christian character harmonious in all its parts become the salt of the earth, the saving power in the world. Distinct, heaven-shaped words and actions amid moral darkness reveal the difference between heavenly principles and the world's, standing distinct from the world instead of revealing a worldly character of show, parade, display, self-indulgence, customs, practices and policies, as doers of the Word whose visible good works bring glory to God. Shutting oneself away from the world as the Pharisees did, confining Bible religion between covers or within church walls, or bringing it out only occasionally for personal benefit and then laying it aside, is forbidden; religion is to sanctify daily life and show itself in every business transaction and in all social relations, in contrast to hollow observance of rules and ceremonies that sheds no ennobling influence. Christians are to live among people and let faith shine through good works rather than withdraw, neither copying the world's practices nor standing aloof from its people, remaining in the world kept from its evil as Enoch did. Their works so connected with God preserve the world from moral corruption, expose sin by contrast, point sinners toward God and heaven, and reach those in moral darkness, for words and profession alone are not enough and without Christian love there can be no Christian fellowship or love for those for whom Christ died.

Shining fulfills the command to be salt and light through supreme love to God and love to neighbor, keeping alive in church members the saving principles Christ brought into the world and giving soul, body and spirit to the efficiency of the church while preserving the love of God in the heart. The Saviour desires that unity and love and Christian fellowship prevail among His followers, and the lesson of Matthew 5 is what disciples today are to spend time learning in the formation of Christlike character. That light includes Christian love for one another, which is easily extinguished, with forbearance, self-denial, sympathy and working together under the Holy Spirit to win people to Christ, hungering and thirsting after righteousness to represent Him in word and deed and make known His love. Distinct influence meant to reach others and help bring sinners to conversion depends on vital connection with Christ and unity with one another, while a contrary example, quarreling, envy and harshness work directly against God's lessons and turn light to darkness.

Christian religion is meant to shine for others through moral excellence developed by earnest effort aided by God's grace, reflecting cheerfulness and happiness rather than gloom. Christians should be cheerful and make faith inviting, so others see the happiness and goodness of following Jesus, with principles shown in daily work, self-control, simplicity in dress and holy conversation continually visible to people whose habits are false. Love for Jesus in the heart cannot remain hidden but reaches others with holy influence that refreshes and blesses, leading people to work as He did for the good of others. When the heart welcomes Christ His presence is revealed in words, spirit and conduct with tenderness, gentleness and sympathy toward all whom God cares for, in a meek and quiet spirit, while cherished bitterness, wrath and uncontrolled temper defile the soul, deny Christ and darken other people's way.

Every young person and child has work to do for God's glory and the salvation of souls, using entrusted gifts and given light and knowledge to brighten moral darkness, dispel error and superstition, honor God and uplift humanity. Even those who are poor, afflicted and little known may shine as lights amid darkness by patiently bearing suffering and comforting the hopeless and sin-stricken around them. Such lives illuminate the world through service to others, faithful use of opportunities, and doing good that makes the world better.

Church as Lightbearer

The church is the Lord's light-bearer, set to shine amid the moral darkness of a corrupt and sinful generation, and the aggressive power of the gospel through it is in proportion to the genuine faith, piety and example of believers. It is dearer to God than anything else in the world and is guarded by Him with jealous care, and nothing offends Him more than disunion, for a divided church bears a bad testimony and example to the world. Christ ordained that His church should be the light of the world, making all the faithful radiant with His light and strong in His power, with His Spirit communicated to human instrumentalities to impart blessed illumination that chases moral darkness away. To receive this, believers must confide wholly in God, carry every burden to Jesus for help and spiritual power, have faith and be of good courage, and lie in the channel where the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine upon them and into all the chambers of the mind and into the soul temple. Though the church is weak and defective and needs correction and counsel, Christ uses it as people yield to God and are transformed, so that those once in darkness become lights amid a morally dark generation and work with Christ to draw others to God, holding up the Lord's pure, righteous principles in marked contrast to Satan's principles, opposing his devisings and striving to uproot selfishness.

The church was given the gospel, the treasure of heaven, to carry to the world until the message of mercy reached every nation, and the light entrusted to it is meant to shine out so others can receive its blessing. When the church became selfish and worldly, it kept back light that should have shone through good works, depriving the world of the blessings God intended for it, so now the churches are to let the light of present truth shine openly through humble, united work so its witness cannot be hidden. The light given to the church is meant to shine because the church has a duty to reflect the light of Christ, and each person connected with Christ can grow in grace and knowledge of Him, using the abilities and opportunities God grants and fully giving himself to Him to become an effective worker for God whatever his occupation. Talents of members are lights to be put to practical use in diffusing truth and blessing others, and when they fail to use them the churches wither; the church is therefore to train its members to use their abilities in missionary work so others can see Christ's likeness in them and the world can be enlightened. Christians should be instructed and given opportunities to share the light they have received, putting light to practical use so it can benefit others.

The church gives light to the world through the transforming, sanctifying power of truth expressed in life and character, not through profession of godliness alone, for its members receive light from God and reflect it to others through good works in close connection with God the giver of life and light. The purity and simplicity of Christ seen in humble believers shows genuine piety, and young people whose hopes and affections are guided by divine wisdom can order their relationships with fellow students and the world while keeping constant fellowship with God, the calm holy peace this brings blessing others wherever they go. The church is to be a region of light and usefulness letting the light of example shine to the world, but when it resembles the world its light is not reflected to others. Appointed believers and the church are the light to shine amid moral darkness so the world receives light and is not left in darkness to the words of the popular pulpit and empty profession, and when the Sun of Righteousness shines upon them they reflect His light and hold forth the Word of life, making the path to the city of God bright. This shining comes not by announcing gospel principles alone but by demonstrating and exemplifying the truth in practice through the practical working power of the Holy Spirit, which compared with mere profession is as gold to dross. The church is to shine as a light in the world's moral darkness revealing God's character through Christlike conduct, its dealings with believers and unbelievers displaying pure principles including treating fellow workers fairly and never using position or opportunity to put another at disadvantage, diffusing light and carrying the message of His love while remaining distinct from the world to attract and encourage people and win them to Jesus, not condemn or denounce them.

A church united in truth is a bright and shining light in the world, with every member a living light to enlighten the world and a working member for saving souls for whom Christ died. Believers united as a church are to be a light in the world, strengthening one another through love and sympathy and working together to win people to Christ, laboring together under the direction of the Holy Spirit with success depending on faith and prayer. Christ, having all power in heaven and earth, joins the church in heaven with the church on earth, giving angels their work of ministering to heirs of salvation and Himself being present by the Holy Spirit, so that heaven and human agencies combine to carry the light He sends to all parts of the world. The light shines when churches are brought into healthy, growing, working order, with members planning and counseling together, practicing the Word, maintaining order large or small, and laboring as fruit-bearing branches of the living Vine together with God and together with the church in heaven. Holy angels preside in their councils and assemblies and work with activity to set things in order so the light can shine, beholding their good order with joy while prayers ascend as sharp sickles with workers in the harvest field, and no Christian is to be idle but to feel deep interest for each new convert, find work for converts to do, and feel responsible for the health and growth of the church. Churches brought into working order and thoroughly disciplined can shine as a light, influencing people throughout the state.

Unconsecrated members dim the church's influence on the world and cripple its efforts, and when church members refuse to shine the world is left without the light they should give, for each person has work to do and selfishness obstructs that witness. Those who have light will diffuse light and shine as lights in the world amid moral darkness by denying self, loving Jesus who died for them and for their neighbors, loving the purchase of the blood of Christ, cultivating love, and continually devising means to save perishing souls. The church is organized to be separate from the world, peculiar, conspicuous, detached and standing apart, so that its separation attracts attention and causes the world to inquire into the things of God, with believers centered in Christ and united together as branches are united in the parent stock and as Christ is one with the Father, their combined influence working for conversion of men and manifesting that their works are wrought in God. When the line of demarcation is obliterated by love of ease, display and the world, and the missionary spirit is extinguished, the light is hidden, as the church at Corinth was hiding its light because it failed to make the fear of Christ first, last and best in everything, fear of offending Jews and learned heathen making it weak. Thoughts, words and Christian lives must be like Jesus so believers can be the light of the world, yet fault-finding among believers harms the work of saving souls while probationary time is passing. When believers fall into lethargy, faultfinding, dissension and striving to be first, they fail to shine and hide the light, grieving the Spirit of the Lord and keeping unbelievers from joining the church, because God will not convict and convert souls to bring them under an influence that would demoralize rather than elevate, purify and ennoble them, when truth is dragged down to serve sin and human caprices. The remedy is conversion or removal of the hindering influence, and steady, firm, persevering sowing of the seeds of truth by consecrated workers, which will gather a harvest of souls.

The church in a place is to reflect God's light there, as was hoped for the church formed in Nimes, a dark place far behind, wicked and corrupt and wise to do evil like Sodom and Gomorrah, where slow gathering with two newly embracing the Sabbath put a light to shine in that darkness. Those in Nimes who had accepted the Sabbath were to reflect God's light in the wicked city, with light placed where it could shine for everyone in the house. In Nashville, workers living close to the Lord and united in earnest purpose would make the truth visible and impress people who did not share their faith, the members being living witnesses for God and lights in the world guided by the principles that guided Abraham and filled with zeal. The truth embraced in Lausanne was a light meant to be visible and to reach the people of the city, the people who accepted the truth and chose to keep the Sabbath being like a lamp set where it could give light to everyone in the house, their witness encouraging further work with glory to God. The church raised in Copenhagen in a large dark city with means from another country likewise shows the light set to shine openly where placed.

The church has been made the repository of the truths of the gospel and the agency through which God's light shines forth in clear, distinct rays, and this shining is working out salvation with fear and trembling while God works within to will and do His pleasure. It is doing all things without murmurings and disputings to be blameless and harmless as sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, abounding more and more in love with knowledge and judgment to approve excellent things, being sincere and without offense and filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. It is walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself, walking as children of light in all goodness and righteousness and truth and proving what is acceptable to the Lord, making manifest what is reproved because what makes manifest is light, awaking from sleep and arising from the dead so Christ gives light. It is walking circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil and understanding what the will of the Lord is, arising and shining because light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen so Gentiles and kings come to the brightness of that rising.

Spreading Light Widely

The house is the world, so the lamp belongs on its stand where all can see it, and the saving light must be carried into every place, to all nations, foreign fields, new localities, villages, cities and regions beyond, that people may be warned, brought out of darkness, and decide for or against the truth. Gathering believers into one large community narrows influence and leaves other places without light, while scattering as witnesses amid moral darkness lets life, testimony and example reach others. Concentrating gatherings, talents and special efforts in one locality keeps the light in one place like hiding it under a bushel, instead of establishing centers of influence where little or no work has been done. Working beyond one's own congregation makes the light burn brighter and reach into darkness beyond its borders.

Putting the candle on its stand means carrying the last warning message with its good works into unworked fields and cities and following up awakened interest with diligent effort so many receive truth and support the work, while hiding it means lack of true missionary spirit that fails to send workers into cities such as Memphis and New Orleans in the South. The light kept from reaching people must be brought into the open and carried quickly from city to city so all may receive it. In England the light has been hidden by very limited labor that left large cities with no work put forth in them, so a much greater work remains to lift it openly that all can be reached. In Boston the light of truth must shine throughout the city from its outskirts to its inmost parts, that city and suburbs hear the final message of mercy, and in New York and other cities the churches must wake up and carry truth out to the people.

In Southern California present truth must be made visible from many established places that it may shine out to the multitudes who come there instead of being hidden. Sanitariums at Los Angeles and San Diego are to stand as lights giving the last message of mercy to the great numbers of tourists who visit every year and to all who come within their influence. Truth must not be hidden in corners but made known and made to shine, especially in large cities, following Christ's example by the lakeside and by the great thoroughfares of travel where people from all parts of the world can be met, sowing the gospel seed, rescuing truth from companionship with error, and presenting it in clear bright rays so men can comprehend it. The truth entrusted to God's people is likewise to shine openly from the nation's capital through proclamation, public witness and an established work there, that people may hear the message for this time.

A school does best away from large cities where high-priced land cannot be afforded and city temptations would demoralize youth, yet it must remain close enough to the city and to the great thoroughfares of travel that its light still reaches all in the highways and byways amid moral darkness covering cities like the pall of death. Camp meetings conducted as they should be shine as a light to the world by bringing truth to communities where it has not been proclaimed, and their reach grows when held in many places where people can attend and when the work moves to new fields as soon as new converts can safely be left. Choosing out-of-the-way places to save inconvenience or expense frustrates that purpose, for meetings should be placed where they can reach unbelievers and let truth shine amid moral darkness with brightness proportionate to its importance.

The printing press and circulation of books and tracts spread divine truth widely to dispel error, and the great light committed to God's people is not to be selfishly enjoyed alone but its rays must shine forth to others in the darkness of error through trained missionaries giving whole time and energies with good address. The light in Christian books should be made available to as many as possible so none are deprived and some may be converted, including by gaining access to hearts and homes without delay and placing books containing present truth before as many people as possible without letting canvassing languish. Papers and tracts diffuse the received light by helping others hear the truth. Publishing a paper on the Pacific coast would make the message visible where people can see it and give it strength and influence, for light has little value to the world unless presented visibly.

Openly establishing the publishing work near Washington and putting the Washington, D.C. imprint on books and papers lets truth go forth as a burning lamp proclaiming the last message of mercy to a perishing world instead of hiding from public view. The Echo office is to be a living light amid moral darkness spreading an influence on the Lord's side, with everyone connected contributing abilities and vigilance. The publishing house at Battle Creek was to send light forth, but printing dangerous errors dishonored God and harmed workers' minds. Precious light given through cautions, reproofs and warnings is hidden under a bushel when books containing them are neglected, kept lying in publishing houses, kept out of the canvassing field, crowded out by another cheaper book, or restricted by barriers so only one book at a time reaches the people, and those receiving each ray are responsible whether they use it to advance in divine things or reject it to follow their own desires. Bringing that book before the people and sending it everywhere puts it on a candlestick, while leaving preparable matter unpublished so it never comes to the people hides it when once done it could benefit thousands. Light given through different books should not be confined or withheld by insisting canvassers circulate only one, but should reach all who will receive it.

Small homelike sanitariums in pleasant places rather than extensive mammoth massive buildings are to be lights shining in a dark place and giving light to all in the house, that the sick are reached, thirsting souls led to the living water, souls won to Christ, and the influence of true pure religion extended to many by workers reflecting the sunlight of Christ's face. The Sanitarium was to stand as a beacon of warning and reproof showing a religious institution could care for the sick without giving up holy character and could help reform habits, morals, tastes and dress. Sanitariums are to reflect light to people around them and to those seeking health, with truth made prominent rather than concealed to shape the institution, honor God, magnify His law and present Bible faith clearly to patrons, and with workers showing the contrast between truth and error and practicing godliness so patients may be convicted and converted.

The torch of truth kindled from the divine altar must be carried into the sin-darkened field instead of withheld, especially to the colored race in the South left unable to help themselves because of past slavery and left to become the sport of Satan's temptations. Withholding it leaves the downtrodden unrescued and the helpless unhelped, puts a dark stain on the record of God's servants, and calls for universal immediate action with the gospel message ringing through the churches, without blind zeal and without defiance of law, to proclaim and live the truth and redeem the neglect. Believers as light-bearers must extend influence beyond home institutions into needy and out-of-the-way places, with farm and school only a means of support that must not hinder searching for lost souls, bringing in the poor that are cast out, comforting, magnifying truth, aiding the distressed, and establishing training centers to educate youth to labor among their own race, going forward even when minister or layman forbids or threatens to withhold support.

Light is set up as a working center in a dark place when two or three families settle where there is no representative of present truth, start a little center, open a little school, gather people for meetings, and do simple earnest work among them, letting Christ's life shine through them to accomplish a great work. A church or mission planted in a city can illuminate surrounding darkness, reach beyond its setting, and kindle other lights in many places through the Holy Spirit's work on minds. Gathering in visible societies in church capacity and establishing memorials wherever forces center — meeting-houses, schools for training young men and women for service, and sanitariums with buildings and land of their own — puts truth on a candlestick on independent vantage-ground, with light added to light shining in clear bright rays without making large conspicuous centers. Lifting light publicly where all present can benefit requires placing public meetings on good prominent ground in a city, as at East Portland when a West Portland site could not be obtained.

Leading physicians and others given light must not conceal it by confining talents and influence to one institution or their own people, but must place it where it benefits believers and unbelievers through visible good works that lead people to glorify the Father. Head physicians in sanitariums must not exclude themselves from speaking truth to others but must use influence beyond routine institutional work, speaking truth, giving wider counsel, Bible instruction, teaching health principles and sharing knowledge wherever opportunity offers, lest souls be lost through neglect of open work.

Hiding Light Warned

To hide under a bushel or under a bed is to work with narrow plans, limited ideas, and cheap inferior methods that belittle the mission and lower the work from the high and exalted position it should occupy. It is to shape plans and efforts so that only the lower classes can be reached, while putting the light on a candlestick is to work intelligently, wisely and unitedly, bringing minds up to the greatness of the work and magnifying the Lord instead of men. Putting on a stand means devising methods to meet the higher classes who need the light as well as the lower, reaching the high classes first if possible without neglecting the lower, so that both are reached, more means are brought in, and workers stand as high as possible in favor with God and with the people through true wisdom and the Holy Spirit working in God's order. The same hiding is confining offices, organization, capabilities and powers to the church itself, whereas the house to be lighted is the world, and putting on a stand is becoming a channel for the gospel scheme of love to flow forth untrammeled, exhibiting Christ's love as a burning lamp, exercising all powers in unselfish preaching to all nations, sending ministry forth into missionary fields, adding new territory, and lifting the standard of saving Bible truths in every possible place for the extension of the kingdom. It is also confining the light to the family and forgetting outsiders and perishing souls who need to be hunted up and brought in like lost sheep, especially as time passes into eternity with little done, and letting commercial interests absorb the mind and occupy all the time so that eternal interests are made inferior to the temporal.

Hiding is letting worldly cares and love of money keep entrusted truth from being shared, withholding by influence and personal effort the help that could lead souls to salvation, for which concealers are responsible. When business absorbs attention until it displaces service to God, it hides the light and becomes the grave of religion, burying talents in the earth. That burial is neglecting the proclamation of the third angel's message and the truth regarding the Lord's Sabbath while the cares of this world engross time and attention that belong to the Lord's work, leaving millions in delusion over a false Sabbath with no sanctity to pass into eternity. To put the light where it belongs is to redeem that neglect without delay with Christlike zeal, openly presenting Sabbath truth and warning men and women of their danger, shining as lights in the world.

Hiding is having only theoretical knowledge while the life does not express its principles, keeping the light under the bushel of human conjectures. A profession of faith in the Sabbath, Christ's return, or discipleship does not benefit neighbors unless lived out by imitating Christ, sharing through words and especially daily conduct and good works to lead sinners to Him and enlighten the world so others glorify God. Doctrines must not be covered by selfishness or by withholding means and abilities, but self-denial, consecration and service let light bring truth to those in spiritual darkness and advance the gospel. Bringing the light from under the bushel is receiving and practicing the Word so the most sublime truths are expressed in life and character, with speech and action revealing the new birth, making known the gospel of life and revealing the grace of Christ in a life renewed in God's likeness, while invisible heavenly agencies work through the visible and reveal unknown things through the known. Those who walk in light received obey plainly revealed will and show a life in harmony with it, but failure to walk in it separates from God, and darkness follows in proportion to light rejected.

Hiding includes cowardly concealing the light out of fear of neighbors' disapproval and shame, instead of letting truth received from God's Word shine steadily by living faithfully as commandment-keeping people. It is refusing open confession and visible witness before the world, angels and men, and refusing moral independence in advocating God's law, softening testimony to please the world rather than bearing it openly for God and truth especially when conflict presses and witness is urgently needed. In the Sabbath test that places every institution and individual on God's side or Satan's side as the mark of the beast is presented, hiding is giving halfhearted service and bowing to the idol sabbath through church resolutions that make compromise easy to avoid trial, inconvenience, loss, imprisonment and fines over Sunday labor. Those truly on the Lord's side stay earnest, whole-souled, humble, meek and lowly of heart and let God teach them, because trial and testing will certainly come, and faithful obedience to God's law makes witness visible.

Experienced workers hide light under a bushel by staying bound up in Battle Creek where financial interests seem most favorable, and hide it under a bed by staying where comfort is most convenient and doing comparatively little. Taking the light from under the bushel and bed and putting it on a candlestick is leaving Battle Creek to establish centers of influence in many large cities and go into the regions beyond, coming into direct contact with those needing help and acting as leaders in missionary work for those outside the camp, so the whole house receives benefit. The same principle forbids placing the lamp where it can be seen only by large gatherings while needy sections are deprived, and forbids narrowing the outreach of office work in cities by cutting off outside business, for light is meant to be placed where it can shine openly and benefit everyone. Workers are called to leave places chosen for comfort or financial interest and labor among people who need help, so influence can reach many and light is made available to others through missionary work.

The work is urgent because probationary time is about to close, so those who know the Scriptures and the power of God must be lightbearers by carrying truth to those in darkness instead of remaining gathered in one large church to please and glorify themselves. They must go out without delay as workers together with God, fully awake and earnest, knowing the time, not waiting to be urged but constrained by God's power to diffuse light and open distinctly the truth revealed in the Word, for there is no time to lose and neglect brings God's woe upon them. Those upon whom the daystar has risen are debtors to those in the darkness of error, to flash light upon their pathway by sounding the alarm throughout the length and breadth of the earth that the day of the Lord is near and hastens greatly, leaving none unwarned. That carrying means entering every possible place because a world is to be saved, traveling from city to city and speaking at camp meetings and tent meetings, proclaiming truth to few or many even under most disagreeable circumstances, and carrying truth into dark places where it has never shone rather than sermonizing or criticizing. If those with great light and large opportunity will not do this, God will take and use those with far less light and fewer opportunities, and in retrospect every man's work will stand at its true value, with recognition from God to those showing souls as the result of labor.

Receivers must act at once to impart light, for religion is not selfish or narrow but diffusive and aggressive, and those given knowledge of God's will are to become channels spreading it far and near with zeal, earnestness and devotion. The house is God's world, so light is to reach people throughout the world through evangelical work including going from house to house and looking for chances to sow its seeds, not be confined by narrow plans. This is done by opening the Bible to people, sharing publications wherever opportunities arise, and by missionaries teaching, writing, distributing tracts, praying, appealing, warning, and living a Christlike example. Every converted soul receiving present truth must communicate it and penetrate the darkness of error covering the religious world, as dense as that enveloping the Jewish nation in Christ's day, not merely in much talk but in good works, using every jot of light, ability and influence not for self-pleasing but for the Lord in perfect obedience, yoked with Christ. Truth not imparted loses its life-giving power and healing virtue, and talents left unused will be required again with the improvements the Master requires, so God's people must develop increasing consecration, efficiency and tact as laborers together with God and not walk in the path of the Jewish nation nor become Laodicean.

Sharing strengthens faith, increases knowledge, and makes a working church living, each member like a living and precious stone emitting light and reflecting God's glory. Whoever shares receives more grace for every grace imparted, and his own light grows clearer and clearer because God works with him, until one witness kindles another and many are raised up to become laborers together with God. Refusing to let living truth sustained by God's power shine to bring others to rejoice in it brings immeasurable guilt and leaves the sharer without excuse, while failure to communicate leaves many to go down into the grave in error. Light must therefore be placed where it can give light broadly and not be hidden or confined to a small sphere or gathered in one place, but carried forth into dark places among opposing influences to convert men from error to truth and give the world the message of righteousness by faith.

Every soul knowing truth is accountable to make it known as truly as a minister, for knowledge of truth is committed to fit believers to be lightbearers, not to quarrel over. The Master requires returns according to ability given, persuading men around for whom Christ died to accept precious truth that they might be pure, holy and sinless, by a life filled with good works and sowing in meekness and faith seeds in hearts met that bring forth fruit unto righteousness. The Holy Spirit is given not to one person or to the ministry alone, so every member, young or old, needs the Spirit as enlightener and can help bring God-given truth to light amid moral darkness, feeling God's work great and solemn, under obligation to help, holding His cause as part of self, thoroughly converted and educated up to standard through organized systematic effort and united labor. God has work for everyone with no idle, selfish, self-centered ones, and refusing to shine leaves the world unlightened and the church asleep while Satan as a living persevering power works to bar the way so Christ's kingdom may not come and God's will may not be done on earth.

Believers let light benefit others through unselfish service, using time, influence, ability, money and means in God's service to bring truth home personally to hearts in darkness. That shining requires carrying a burden to advance God's work and give the last solemn warning to human beings on the very verge of the eternal world perishing for the bread of life and water of salvation, hunting for souls and carrying missionary work into different places and climes as never before. It requires self-denial and self-sacrifice, refusing to waste God's silver and gold on candies, bows, ribbons, needless dress and other unnecessary things, on attractive selfish indulgences and strife over who will be greatest, and instead investing in His cause to help the needy, educate, establish plain simple humble schoolhouses and meetinghouses, and save souls. Each member developing and multiplying talents by use becomes a steady light-bearer, and as talents multiply through use the church becomes a light to the world; spending time and money on selfish pursuits gives no evidence of genuine faith. When believers thus arise as laborers together with God and Christ and partakers of the divine nature, the Holy Spirit will come.

Followers shine by holding the torch in hand and shedding its light upon willing and unwilling eyes alike through earnest, prayerful, true and faithful work under orders from heaven, in all things representing Christ's compassion. The light reaching all in the house is a consistent religious life, holy conversation, unswerving integrity, active benevolence and godly example that carries conviction to hearts and consciences of unbelievers. Practical godliness including cheerfulness, industry, honesty, kindness, forbearance and generosity makes them lights in a dark world and witnesses that Christ lives within, leaving a favorable or unfavorable impression, so they must practice Christ's lessons and live out God's requirements. Patience, courage and steadfast integrity make daily life shine even before opponents who may respect conduct while resisting belief, making spoken words more powerful to bring conviction. Those pained by evil and by others going astray are not to become discouraged but to keep shining, obeying truth and reflecting Jesus' character as a bright light helping others see God's truth.

Christ abiding in the person makes that person a light, for His presence cannot be hidden, and as selfishness and sin are cleared away His light shines more brightly. When Jesus dwells in the soul, purifying, ennobling and guiding into truth, the person becomes a bright light and must not let it grow dim, expressing Christ's grace in a life and work reaching others. Christ living in the heart is seen in conduct, and influence blesses those met and testifies to the power of truth. Conforming the will to God's and reflecting Christ's meek, loving character, with no divided service but reproducing His tenderness, disinterested benevolence and love for souls in daily life, softened by humble wrestling prayer, meeting and overcoming temptation, makes light shine. That means acknowledging being bought with a price so body, soul, spirit, time and capabilities are His, abiding in Christ with Christ abiding within, coming out from the world and being separate, not loving the world nor things in it, setting affections above, and finding His yoke easy and burden light.

Openly displayed truth exposes darkness and makes sin and unrighteousness discernible by contrast with righteousness. When moral darkness covers the earth, lives of standard-bearers must make the contrast between heaven's light and Satan's darkness clearer, with loyalty and obedience to God's law and practical godliness rebuking transgression. That faithful course amid surrounding darkness makes plain the contrast between righteousness and sin and truth and error, continually reproving unbelief and disobedience and those refusing to obey. Its witness may help even those thought unlikely to accept truth to be saved, while hiding witness through fear or concession suggests disobedience is acceptable and keeping God's commandments a burden.

God intends His people to display the principles of His kingdom in life and character as light, which requires separation from the customs, habits and practices of the world and nearness to God so His will is known. This purpose today is the same as for Israel brought out of Egypt, who as light-bearers to nations through whose land they passed when obedient and sustained through wilderness to the promised land, while murmurers refusing conversion perished. By beholding God's goodness, mercy, justice and love revealed in His church and His law exemplified in daily life, the world receives a representation of His character and recognizes the superiority of those loving, fearing and serving God above all others. As a peculiar, distinct, holy people separate from idolatry yet set to bless the entire world as depositary of sacred eternal truths, rendering obedience to all commandments and responding to mercy, light and grace, they manifest His rich blessings through pure obedient character excellent above every other nation, exalt His kingdom's laws, direct attention to Him as wise faultless supreme ruler, proclaim His grace to all nations, tongues and peoples, and work with Christ for a fallen world's recovery. Their lives acknowledge His holy precepts and give living testimony that spiritual growth is possible, as channels made by communion with God.

Knowledge and ability should be shared by teaching and training others rather than selfishly withheld, placing light where it can illuminate. Each is to do work appointed according to ability, putting forth effort to qualify for the Master's work and positions of trust, and educating fellow workers and imparting knowledge by precept and example instead of keeping knowledge back or refusing to train others. Anyone seeing failures in an institution who has useful knowledge of larger experience and a more successful way must diffuse it by counseling directly with those in trust and helping them see the right way of action. Merely spreading criticism without offering helpful counsel, leaving without speaking to proper persons and then telling outsiders of failures in management and expense, is neglect of duty and unfaithfulness to God-given responsibility without Christian spirit, injuring reputations of institution and workers who may act according to the best light they have; if no well-regulated plan for improvement can be suggested, telling of mistakes seen is wrong.

Children and pupils with prepared hearts, with teachers individually and every effort joined for that one purpose, are to stand as a light set where it gives light to all in the house. That is like a lighthouse giving guiding light so tempest-tossed souls are not wrecked upon rocks and do not make shipwreck of faith, laboring earnestly for salvation of children under charge and presenting to Jesus the acceptable offering of their own hearts. Sabbath school workers laboring for children's salvation make faith and work cause truth to shine to everyone around. Teachers reveal the Redeemer's gracious attributes through lives representing Christ and showing His excellence, and a teacher whose Christian character is kept bright becomes a light not only to students but to their homes, neighborhoods and far beyond into moral darkness. Those connected with schools are to fear God, have His love in hearts, make religion attractive to youth, feel constant dependence on God as Source of wisdom, not let self obtain mastery, be controlled by His Spirit, walk humbly, and feel responsibility not less than a minister, so influence carried wherever youth go becomes sacred influence meeting moral darkness and making the school one of God's greatest ordained means for salvation.

Women are called to help spread Heaven's light through active work for present truth, placing it where it can benefit everyone in the house. For a wife and mother who is the light of the world, that light shines first in the home by staying with husband and children, caring for her own small plot at her own door, and training children in safe paths through loving diligent care and instruction. Leaving the precious little flock to become demoralized and harden hearts while doing religious work for others is letting light shine in a wrong way altogether and makes it harder for children to become what God would have them and win heaven. Every worker must be as a burning light, putting forth God-given measure of usefulness and power where he can walk and work acceptably to God, preserving every jot of spiritual and physical power even by leaving country and associations if remaining means living in spiritual death, so best results are secured and that sleep avoided, for no one lives to himself.

Institutions receiving heaven's light are to reflect its rays to others, standing as centers of light helping introduce truth into new places. Schools and sanitariums can carry truth in clear steady rays like a city set on a hill, and raising the banner of truth in such institutions across many lands can bring more to truth than other methods. A health institution should be an effective means of giving light, showing scientific ability with moral and spiritual power as a faithful sentinel of reform, its workers representing Christ's religion and maintaining living connection with Heaven to do good to bodies and souls. A publishing house likewise should be a light in the world and faithful witness for God, keeping the standard high in teaching and example.

Heaven's light is to shine clearly by proclaiming salvation for all, like a lamp placed to illuminate everyone in the house, for the message is a blessing for all and God's gifts are given to just and unjust alike as Christ breaks barriers so every person may hear, see and receive the water of life. Light received is to be made visible and reflected to the world through men and women serving as channels, not kept exclusive or to self. Those enlightened are to make truth known and serve as witnesses, imparting light, life and grace through lives bearing visible evidence of them, with Christlike influence enlightening and educating others. Without lives of service as channels making light available, the dark world will not be enlightened.

True believers do not discourage one of God's light-bearers and intercept rays Christ would have shine, for each person God makes willing can be a channel revealing His pardoning love. Faithful workers depend on God and receive power to make light known, walking in light with enough light from the Word to guide each step toward heaven and shining outward to those around. Prayers and testimonies bringing no spiritual light fail to edify, while believers bring light to one another through shared experience. There is no reason for any believer, though sinful and unworthy, to fail as light-bearer when Satan tries to sever faith's connection by telling sinners they cannot expect grace and answered prayer; claiming the Lord's promises keeps connection unbroken, advancing in intelligence in prayer and testimony and manifesting that God hears and answers. Loyalty to God must thus be clear, active, steady before the world, not hidden or compromised.

Conversion brings desire to tell others because saving truth cannot stay shut in, but reveals Christ through pure noble character and good works giving light to those around amid moral darkness to glorify the Father. Disciples taught by Christ make light of His Word visible, not keeping it to themselves, with patient forbearance under provocation and lives of goodness, wisdom and true piety blessing the world and revealing God's character and power as Daniel and companions did through faithful integrity. Faith must not be confined to attending church, but joined to Christ as light of the world revealing the divine likeness and glorifying God in body and spirit, holding firmly to Word and truth whose light continues until earth's close, with more light given to those walking in light received. Shining requires character under the Spirit's molding influence and faith working by love purifying from objectionable hereditary and cultivated tendencies, showing humility's sweetness with firmness and solidity, moving by His love to suffer with sufferers, rejoice with rejoicers, feel tenderness for weakness, sorrow and distress, and reach forth help to the needy in Christ's pity and self-sacrifice reflecting the divine law in which is life, hope and light; without this profession avails nothing and hard spirit where light should appear is a savor of death not life. Leaders thus let light shine through Bible teaching, prayerful connection and consistent life, so good works are seen, prejudice removed, and many accept present truth, continuing through trial until earth's close.