During these stern days when ihe moval foundations of the world are being shaken itis both strengthening and fe&ssurin fundamental truths of, and are largely to be found in the New, I say largely' because I increasingly. the number of people who are ce! their religion on the of the bepaue diminish 3 Truth is the goal which the Church seeks and being afraid of criticism is faced with confidence since Ít gives us an opportunity, candidly, well-informedly to think out anew. in the light of modern knowledge. the fundamental afirmations of our deepest beliefs. More and more Christians are being compelled to ask what did Jesus really say and teach? Today I want {o take and examine one of the great of Jesus made in John's Gospel. It is this: T am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall certainly nor walk in darkness but shall have the light of life."
Light was one of the central thoughts symbolized in the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles which was being celebrated when Jesus made this stupendous assertion. The pillar of fire had. so tradition said. guided the children o! Israel in the wilderness. This tradition was commemorated and symbolized by the lighting of four great candelabra in the Court of the Women where Jesus was teaching.. It was the most public part of the temple. As the eandje-Sticks illumined the temple court and fung their light over a great part of the city so the teaching of Jesus, whenever and wherever followed by mankind. would dissipate the clouds of spiritual doubt, scatter the night of darkness, and pour eyesight on the eyes of humanity.
The figure of the light is one of the recurring themes of John's Gospel. In the Prologue, the eternal Word is the light of men' it is the true light which lighteth every man coming into the world" In one arresting verse there is a thought that may well sustain us during these days when we cannot see far down the road. John writes: "The light shine th in darkness; and the darkness overcome it not.... that is the darkness did not absorb it—and the darkness that has descended upon Europe Will never overcome it. The metaphor was familiar to the writers of the Old "Testament. "The Lord is my light and my salvation.' sani the Psalmist; and again: In thy light shall we see light The, prophet Malachi proclaimed: Unto you that fear my name the sun of right, *ousness shall arise with healing in his wings. It was with these metaphors in His mind, and many others which might be quoted. that Jesus made the astonishing challenge that He is the light of the world. What did He mean by it? He signified that He is the vehicle by which the illuminating. life-giving, quickening will of the Heavenly Father is made known to mankind. The God whom Jesus revealed is not a God who is afar off—He is actively at work in our universe; the Light. which no one can see, has declared Itself' in Jesus. Just as the infra-red rays which no human eye may detect. can. by suitable instruments. be made the means of photographing invisible objects. as in X-rays. "ven 60, while no one can see God as He is. the Perfect Man. Jesus. has made Him visible. Jesus is the light of the world because He makes God understandable. Here we have one of those truths which are unshakeable. No matter what might befall we have in Jesis a shining light that will shine more and more unto the perfect day.'
"He that followeth me shall certainly not walk in darkness.' The great controversy down the ages has been between Light and Darkness. In its ultimate analysis the bitter and gigantic conflict in which the world is now. locked is the age-long contest between Light and Darkness. And by Darkness the Gospel indicates everything in human life that is contrary to God. all that resists the true light, all the ignorance and wilful rejection of the Truth which issue in the appalling consequences of confusion and rebellion seen today. Now. if we are to do our bit in this world-wide struggle. we are to walk in the light. or in other words we are to follow Christ. Each individual who walks in the light dispels darkness. The effective resistance to the powerful forces of darkn*ss which are destroying humanity is to walk in the light—not in a theoretical but in a practical way. We are to do. to practice the truth. Actions speak louder than words. Deeds. not words.are demanded.
We live in deeds. not years: in thoughts.
mot breaths: In feelings. not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heartthrobs.
He most lives thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.