The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-11-05

gency OF the need, and the blessedness
OF the privilege of being light holders.
isaiah sees before his vision the revived
and re-establIshed nation Of Israel. The
Christ, the One Whom the nation re-
jected when He first came to earth, has
returned and has been received by the
nation as It's Messiah and King. And
the cry OF the prophet comes to stir the
people to universal missionary activity
as the glory of her King Is reflected upon
her and she goes forth to shine for Him.
AS one reads through the chapter the
glory, power and influence Of the ma
ton is unfeIded. All nations are to
come under the influence and sway of
the restored nation of Israel, and all are
to come to know the Lord. This is the
great and ultimate fulhllment OF this
prophecy. There IS. however. q nearer
message for the heart that knows and
loves the Lord. Israel is not ready yet
to receive her King. She is not prepared
to cry: Blessed Is He Who eometh
in the name of the Lord" But there are
Individual hearts all over this land and
throughout the world who have behefd
the Light which has come into the
world; who have received that Light
as the beacon ray which could light
them back to God, and eternity with
Him. To such the cry of the prophet
comes as a present appeal. present
blessed story Of the Christ Who has
come into the world to save sinners. q
present glorious privilege OF serving
that Christ to the saving OF others.
Arise, then, shine; for thy Light is
come and the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee. Yea, more, His glory
shall be seen upon thee.
NOU may read these words without 8
5 thrill stirring your heart. You may
hear the prophets words without being
conscious of their Wondrous message.
but 1t 10 not the fault Of the mighty
and glorious truth set forth, but the
result of the cold, unresponsive heart
which hears, yet is not conscious OF the
marvellous music Divine, which sees,
yet does not appreciate the exquisite
C.
story is told OF the celebrated artist
Turner that one day IS he was exhibiting
one OF his masterpieces to a lady she
viewed 1t critically and then remarked,
unappreciatiVeIy: Is not this coloring
aIittte unnatural and oyerdone? never
saw such sky as that All, Madam"
replied the artist, but don't you wish
that you could?" She did not have the
artistic eye that could catch the ex-
quisite colorings that the artist was able
TO see and put on canvas. But the tints
and coIors were there just the same.
And the heart as It hears the message
II our text may fail TO feel the thrill of
Divine rapture. The lady critic Of Tur
ner's masterpiece could never know the
artistic vision that would give her full
appreciation OF the beauties of the pic
tire. but. thank God! It need not be SO
Ia regard to things spiritual. Where the
hearing Is dull and the eyesight is dim.
50 that the message aWakens no respon-
sive echoes In the heart, and no vision
comes with Its Inspiration and power. it
may all be changed under the gracious
operation OF Gods spirit. The heart
may be quickened TO hear and the blind
eyes may be opened TO see. It need not
be said Of you or me that 1t was impossi-
bic TO feel the thrill OF Gods message
or TO catch the vision of glories beyond
which would urge our tagging feet on
ward. We may all know the joy and
encouragement OF the prophets mes
sage: arise! Shine. for thy Light is
come, and the glory OF the Lord is risen
upon thee. His glory shall be
seen upon thee
THE great initial truth Is that light
l has come into the world. This is
the center from which all other truth
cadfates. Light In the world, and yet
how Indifferent we are to that Light.