The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-12

antidote for any such disconragcment i
TO recount the things We hear and see.
Gods great work goes on Cdenm'
stances may not always be to our own
choosing but We need No, look far hc'
vond our own narrow limitations TO
see that God rules in his heaven and
alrs right with the world"
Last evening Rev. Rydquist, pastor
Of the First Lutheran church spoke on
the subject. Christ as the Light OF the
World"
~Liyht is most wonderful pheno'
menon. II is the glory and crown OF
the visible world. II is the fountain OF
life, the medium which the wisdom OF
God has chosen by which he transforms
and sus,ains life. II is also the symbol
of truth. Where the eternal truth OF
God is not known there is darkness,
The heather world is in darkness be-
cause the light OF this truth has not
vet reached it. When its rays shall
have penetrated that darkness then
shall the beauty of the Lord appear
there also. Cnbelief Is a darkness IN
which the soul il voluntarily enshroud.
ed. Despair is dark prison into which
the enemy OF man plungcs the soul
Why Christ is called the light OF the
world is radily seen. But let Us con
sider for our mutual ediication this
evening a few reasons why he is 80
called.
Christ is the light of the world Tor
he i the source Of life. From him as
from a fountain all life flows. lie says
concerning himself l anu the light OF
life, and st. John says; Through him
are all things made, that are made. As
our sun awakens slumbering millions
in rising on its silent course across
the 6rmanent so when the beaming face
of the almighty creator appeared IN
time a flaming universe arose out OF
the immeasurable abyss oi space, and
by the brooding OF his animating spirit
began to thob with life. All the in
Vulnerable suns that have ever trembled
on the innumerable horizons Of count
hess worlds have proceeded from that
same source and in their brilliant
CAREERS they are senenely guided by the
same light. This little planet Of ours
which has become our temporal abode
came into existancc by the same al
mighty fiat. Let there be- Every
mountain and valley, every forest and
plain, every element in this great and
complex cosmos as well as the myriad
forms OF life that inhabit II, all point
to the same source. How great and in
finite must not that source be. How
adorable is not he who said: 4 am the
light Of the world
Christ is the light of the world be-
cause he is the source OF happiness
Nv means Of the light the bautiiul OF
creation i revealed to us. II falls
among the clouds and they are silver
lined. The setting sun sheds its rays
ON the distant mountain tops and they
are enveloped in haze OF gold. II falls
among the rain and dew drops and
the rainbow with it, varied hue Is the
result. II falls on hill and dale on field
and meadow. revealing an indescribablc
vision. II falls on foliage and Hover,
revealing greater glory than that o.
king; it penetrates the bars OF the
prison cell to the unhappy inmate, and
he preets il a. messeng Of hope and
cheer from heaven. Light is not only
cheerful in itself, but il reveals to Us
the beauty Of creation and the wonder
fl works Of God for our enjoyment and
in enjoying it We should be happy We
see why Christ called himself the light
Of the world. Now We cannot be happ,
| without Christ. Without Christ yo'
cannot have that blessed assurance that
YOUR sins are forgiven. What make'
msn most miserable in this life Is th'
consciousness Of sin. The sorows am
! woes Of man are caused BY sin Whel
Christ appears as the Lamb Of God VIII
taketh away the sin Of the world the'
| first will the soul be capable Of tfu
bappine.s. without Christ there cai
be no hope OF eternal life. Without thi
hope man cannot be happy nor content
Despair il the condition Of the soul I
death who has lived WITHOUT Christ
And eternal darkness Is the conditio
after death. But the roul whose ligh
| is Christ happy here and ioreye
Thus the. infinite and eternal God
atnong M as our light. II Is his puI