Walk While Ye Have The Light
Our opening text, in our second-to-last study on God’s beautiful way, is found in Hosea chapter 6.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD…
Now, how will we know the Lord? If we follow on to know. And then, to illustrate that important truth, the prophet says:
His going forth is prepared as the morning. – Hosea 6:3
Oh, yes. Morning by morning we see illustrated in the east, God’s great plan of revealing to men the beautiful way:
The Sun of Righteousness did not burst upon the world in splendor, to dazzle the senses with His glory. It is written of Christ, ‘His going forth is prepared as the morning.’ Quietly and gently the daylight breaks upon the earth, dispelling the darkness and waking the world to life. So did the Sun of Righteousness arise, ‘with healing in His wings’. – Ministry of Healing, pg. 32
Oh, friends, isn’t that beautiful? And morning by morning, we have witnessed that light, that dawning light. 3:00, it is all dark. 4:00, still dark. But look out at 5:00, and what is it? It is brighter. What about 6:00? Brighter yet. Will it be brighter at 7 and on? How far? Till the perfect day.
Turn to Proverbs 4:18, please, and you will see that this is the beautiful way:
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. – Proverbs 4:18
The Revised Standard Version translates it: “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Isn’t that wonderful? Well, how much have we had, then? We have just had the beginning, dear friends; there is more ahead. As the good cook says, “There is plenty more where that came from.” Don’t you like to hear that at the table? Yes.
We need constantly a fresh revelation of Christ, a daily experience that harmonizes with His teachings. High and holy attainments are within our reach. Continual progress in knowledge and virtue is God’s purpose for us. His law is the echo of His own voice, giving to all the invitation,‘Come up higher. Be holy, holier still.’ Every day we may advance in perfection of Christian character. – Ministry of Healing, pg. 503
Isn’t that nice? And then the servant of the Lord remarks that there are those that “have a twilight perception of Christ’s excellence” – the beauty of His character – “their hearts thrill with joy,” and “they long for more.” Can they have more? Oh, it says:
“Cherish every desire of the soul after God. The Holy Spirit works with those who will be worked, molds those who will be molded, fashions those who will be fashioned. Give yourselves the culture of spiritual thoughts and holy communings. You have seen but the first rays of the early dawn of His glory. As you follow on to know the Lord, you will know that the ‘path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day’.” – Ministry of Healing, pg. 503
Oh, is that really true, friends? Can tomorrow be better than today? And next week still better? And next month still more glorious? Thank God. And the more we see, the more beautiful it appears. Oh, how good God is. Notice God’s great purpose in revealing this light to us. John 8:12, turn to it please. He tells us where to get light and what to do about it. Who is the light? He says:
I am the light of the world….
Now what are the next four words?
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. – John 8:12
What is the light for? Yes, it is to shine, but what is it for? To dispel the darkness, yes. But, what does He say here? What are we to do? Follow Him. We are to walk. That is what the light is for. It is not just to entertain us, or just to cheer us. It does that. It cheers us. But, oh friends, light is so that we will walk where we should.
John 12:35, turn to that please. Once again, He brings in this beautiful figure of light, increasing light. But He gives us a real warning:
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. – John 12:35
Oh, the light doesn’t last forever? Not where we are, friends.
Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you. – John 12:35
The way to always have light is to walk in what light you have. The way to lose even the light that you have is simply to not walk in it. Oh, how important that is, my dear friends. Somebody says, “There are so many things that perplex me. There are so many things I don’t understand.” My dear friends, the things you don’t understand are not light to you. Light is clear and plain. Walk where the light shines. The thing that God has made plain to your heart, do that. Are there things that appear uncertain? Don’t put your feet in uncertain paths. Walk where? In the light, the beautiful light of God. This is made so beautifully clear and clearly beautiful in Steps to Christ:
Instead of questioning and caviling concerning that which you do not understand, give heed to the light that already shines upon you, and you will receive greater light. – Steps to Christ, pg. 111
Oh, how simple that is, friends. I hope somehow, in these last little classes of this series, we get this thing just simple and plain and clear. And it is to be a personal matter, an individual experience. It is the light that shines on your pathway that you are to walk in. It is the duty that God has made clear to your soul that is for you:
Give heed to the light that already shines upon you, and you will receive greater light. By the grace of Christ, perform every duty that has been made plain to your understanding, and you will be enabled to understand and perform those of which you are now in doubt. – Steps to Christ, pg. 111
Isn’t that a wonderful promise? Reverently, but boldly, hold God to His promise. Say, “Lord, I don’t know what to do about this and that, and the other thing, but here is one thing that I see clearly. God help me, I will do that. And Lord, make clear the other things you want me to do.” Oh, friends, will you do it? Thank God.
This is the beautiful way; this is God’s great freeway. The path to Heaven has many steps, but they are taken one step at a time; one step at a time.
Years ago, there was a man named Canwright. Did you ever hear of Canwright? Poor fellow, He missed the way. But at one point in his experience, he was in doubt and perplexity, and the servant of the Lord sent him this testimony:
“Be careful how you move. … If perplexed, hold still; make no move in the dark. … Wait, and God will help you. Be patient, and the clear light will appear.” – Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, pg. 572
Oh, there it is, friends. God sometimes lets us wait in the dark, but He never asks us to jump in the dark, friends. Oh, no; never. If you don’t know what to do, you know just what to do – that’s pray and wait on God. Wait for light, because, as we read here in John 12, the man that walks in darkness doesn’t know where he goes. He is going to stumble. He is liable to land in the ditch, isn’t he? But, oh, if we walk in the light, then we have assurance and certainty.
Join us next week, for the conclusion of our study on God’s beautiful way. Invite a friend, and we’ll see you then…
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* This study has been adapted from classes taken by Elder W.D. Frazee.