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The Consistent Christian, March 24
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.... If we walk in the light,
as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7
.
It is the privilege of the Christian to connect with the Source of light, and
through this living connection become the light of the world. Christ’s true
followers will walk in the light as He is in the light and therefore they will
not travel in an uncertain way, stumbling because they walk in darkness. The
Great Teacher is impressing upon His hearers the blessing which they may
be to the world, represented as the sun rising in the east, dispelling the mist
and the shadows of darkness. The dawn gives place to day. The sun, gilding,
tinting, and then glorifying the heavens with its blaze of light is a symbol of
the Christian life. As the light of the sun is light and life and blessing to all
that live, so should Christians, by their good works, by their cheerfulness and
courage, be the light of the world. As the light of the sun chases away the
shades of night and pours its glories on valleys and hills, so will the Christians
reflect the Sun of Righteousness which shines on him.
Before the consistent lives of Christ’s true followers, ignorance, supersti-
tion, and darkness will pass away, as the sun dispels the gloom of night. In
like manner the disciples of Jesus will go into the dark places of the earth,
disseminating the light of truth until the pathway of those in darkness shall
be illuminated by the light of truth.
In what contrast to this is the life of the professed child of God who is
as the salt without the savor. He has no vital connection with God and, like
the worthless salt—which Christ describes as being thenceforth good for
nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men—he has no saving
properties. Thus is the life of a professed follower of Christ if he has not a
living connection with Jesus Christ. These sunless professors are shadows of
darkness....
Every expression of doubt strengthens unbelief. Every thought and word
of hope, courage, light, and love strengthens faith and fortifies the soul to
withstand the moral darkness that exists in the world. Those who talk faith will
have faith, and those who talk discouragements will have discouragements.
By beholding we become changed.—
Letter 16, March 24, 1880
, to a General
Conference officer.
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