“The path of the just is as the shining light, . . . The way of the wicked is as darkness.” Prov. 4:18, 19.

One of the most pleasant things in the world is light. Do you remember who made it, and how it was made? What a cold, lifeless, gloomy place this earth would be without the beautiful light. ’Tis true we need the cool, quiet night in which to rest, but how gladly everything welcomes the morning light! At the first peep of day, the little birds pour out their songs of praise. And as the trees and grass and flowers are touched by the warm rays, they shake out their dewy leaves and seem to say, “Good morning, merry sunshine! We are so glad that you have come again.” Men go forth to their work with gladness, and baby hands reaching out with joy to catch and kiss the pretty sunbeam that rests a moment on the floor. Ah, yes, ’tis true, we love the light better than the darkness. And sometimes we almost wish that it would never go away.

Although day and night will continue to come and go as long as this earth remains, yet our whole life will be as pleasant as the shining light if we have Jesus with us. He says, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. We need the sunlight, but we need Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, more.

But how can we have Him with us? Jesus by His Holy Spirit dwells in His word, therefore by loving His holy letter and letting its words enter into our hearts we let Jesus into our hearts, and He will then abide with us, and His life will be our light. Then no matter if we are all alone in the dark, away from every earthly light, we are safe, and may be happy.

When we disobey God or our parents, and are cross and angry with our brothers, sisters, or friends, and say naughty words, and lie, or steal, Jesus looks grieved and sad, for that shows that we do not love Him. He cannot stay with us, and we feel unhappy and everything seems dark and unpleasant, no matter how bright the sun may be shining. Wickedness always brings a feeling of darkness and unhappiness, because Jesus leaves us. Without Him we make mistakes and go into wrong ways as surely as without light we stumble and go into broad paths. So the Bible says that “the way of the wicked is as darkness.”

Dear child, in which road are you walking? Are you cross, and selfish, and disobedient? If so, you are walking in the way of darkness. Jesus loves you and wants you to be saved, but He knows that if you keep on in this way you will finally be lost. He therefore calls you to come out of the way of the wicked into the path of the just (righteous), to come out of the darkness of sin into the light of Jesus’ own righteousness. That you may not make mistakes and go wrong, He places in your hand the Bible lamp. “Take it,” He says, “Let its words enter into your hearts, and do as it says, and you will find the right way. It will lead you to Me, and I am the light of the world.” Then your path will be as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. At that time Jesus will come and take you to live with Him in His beautiful home, where it is always light.

Here are some little verses for you to learn:—

“God is always near me
Hearing what I say;
Knowing all my tho’ts and deeds,
All my work and play.

“God is always near me,
In the darkest night
He can see me just the same
As by midday light.

“God is always near me,
Though so young and small;
Not a look or word or thought
But God knows it all.”

1. Of what use are your eyes?
2. Suppose that this earth to-day were just as it was at first, what good would your eyes do you?
3. Who made the light?
4. When?
5. How?
6. “And the evening and the morning were—?
7. When does every day begin?
8. For what is the light good?—It shows us the beautiful things that God has made; we can seek to work and play; it makes us warm and healthy; it gives colour to the grass and flowers and fruits; it makes things grow and ripen. Everybody and everything would become ill and die if there were no light.
9. Did you ever see any grass or plants or people who lived in the dark?
10. How did they look?
11. Then do you think that we ought to keep our blinds shut and our shades down so that the light can’t get through our windows? Why not?
12. Of what use is the night?
13. Can you see the night when it is very dark?
14. Who can see just as well in the night as in the day? Ps. 139:11, 12.
15. Can He not watch over us, then, and take care of us in the dark just as well as in the light?
16. To whom do both the day and night belong?—God. Ps. 74:16.
17. Then have we any right to use them in a way that will not please Him?
18. Which do you like better, light or darkness?
19. How may your path all the time be like the shining light?
20. If you continue to live without Jesus, how will it be?
21. How much do you need Jesus?—More than you need sunshine.
22. How can you find Him?—By following the wonderful Bible lamp.

“The heart that will open
To Jesus the Sun
May dwell in the sunlight
Till life’s day is done.”

 

“Walk in the Light”

There are only two ways through this world, and you, my child, are in one of them.

Satan’s way leads to unhappiness and eternal death, but the way of Jesus leads to happiness and eternal life.

Satan’s way is like darkness because it is so full of wickedness and sin that those who walk therein cannot see where they are going.

The Lord’s way is like the shining light because there is no sin to blind, and it is so full of the perfect life of Jesus that all who walk therein can see just where they should go and what they should do. They have Jesus the perfect copy to follow, and although they cannot imitate this copy themselves, they can easily do it when they allow the Master to use their hands and feet and eyes and tongues and minds. But there are but few who are willing to give up their own way and allow Him to do this, so there are but few who are walking in the straight and narrow way of Jesus.

Satan’s way is broad and those who walk in that way are allowed to do all the wickedness that they please; therefore many walk therein. They have no perfect copy to follow, but just copy Satan or one another, so you can imagine how they get farther and farther from the right way and the perfect copy.

There are Bibles in both ways, but no light comes out of most of those in Satan’s way because sometimes they are not even opened, and are allowed to lie on the shelf covered with dust and spiderwebs, and even many of those that are opened are not loved and received as God’s word, but are read as any common book. ’Tis true that now and then a darkened soul takes up the Bible and opens it and receives it as God’s words to him, and believes it with his whole heart. When this occurs, of course a flood of light falls upon his way, and lo, he is no longer in the dark way, but is led out of darkness into the marvellous light of Jesus.

Those who are walking in the light every day are every day studying their Bibles, like the boy in our picture, and are daily receiving it into their hearts and loving and obeying it. They thus have Jesus with them every day and do not walk in the darkness of sin.

But sad to say, some of those who are in the way of light get tired of receiving God’s word every day, and neglect to study and take it into their hearts, and thus neglect to receive Jesus the Light. A change takes place immediately. The light begins to grow dim, Satan throws some of the clouds of sin before their eyes, and ere long their feet turn out of the right way and go stumbling along in the sin-darkened road of Satan.

It is God’s word received that brings the light, it is God’s word received daily that keeps the light. God’s word is therefore called a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path. If you receive it daily and obey it, you will be walking in the light. Oh, will you do it?

There are two ways and two leaders. You may take your choice, but you must walk in one of the two ways. Jesus died that you might have a path of light to walk in. Which leader do you choose? the prince of darkness or the Prince of Light?

The Present Truth – August 31, 1893
E. J. Waggoner

Story in pdf Light and Darkness & Walk in the Light