to flash out of darkness, that men may take knowledge of us that we
have been with Jesus. But remember, the world hates the light. Christ
was the light of the world, and the world sought to extinguish it at
Calvary. Now He has left His people to shine. "Ye are the light of the
world." He has left us here to shine. He means us to be "living
epistles, known and read of all men." The world is certain to watch,
and to read you and me. If we are inconsistent, then you may be sure
the world will take occasion to stumble at us.
The world finds plenty of difficulties on the way; let us see that we
Christians do not add more stumbling-blocks by our un-Christlike walk.
God help us to keep our lights burning clear and brilliant! Out West a
friend of mine was walking along one of the streets one dark night,
and saw approaching him a man with a lantern. As he came up close to
him he noticed by the bright light that the man had got no eyes. He
went past, but the thought struck him, "Surely that man is blind." He
turned round, and said, "My friend, are you not blind?" "Yes." "Then
what have you got the lantern for?" "I carry the lantern that people
may not stumble over me, of course," said the blind man. Let us take a
lesson from that blind man, and hold up our light, burning with the
clear radiance of heaven, that men may not stumble over us.
6. Objectors have said that it's all moonshine about Christ's people
being lights on the way. Well, that's just what we believe; we reflect
the light of Christ.