The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1911-12-08

TEXT-And the Lord went before them
by day In a pillar OF cloud to lead them
the way: and by night in a pillar OF fire
to give them Mght-Exodus 1912.
First I want you to see the connection
between these two widely separated
texts. The one is from the account
OF the journey or Israel through
the trackless wilderness; the sec
ond. Jesus spoke centuries later. as
he was present at the feast of taber-
nacles In Jerusalem. The first verse
describes the customary way in olden
times, of leading large bodies of men
on the march, whether caravans or
armies. A tall pole was erected at
the head Of the marching column, on
which was hung a basket of fire. The
glare OF the fire was visible from every
part OF he camp at night, and in the
daytime the column or pillar of smoke
guided the movements of the host.
The only difference in the case of the
Israelites was that the Lord was
In the fire, and that he controlled and
guided the movements of the people,
In the time of Jesus the Jews were
wont to commemorate at the feast OF
the t~abernacles, the time VIXEN they
were wanderers in the desert, and
God made provision for their susten-
ance and safety. They lit large lamps
or torches around the temple to sym
bolize the pillar of fire, and then gave
themselves up to dancing and reveIry.
AS Jesus stood in the temple area
and looked over the people, he saw
that they needed guidance ever more
than they did in the desert, and that
they needed light now just as much
as they needed the pillar of fire OF
DID These lights about The temple
were merely reminders of past mercy,
and possibly many of the people had
even forgotten their Significance; but
here was he, the Guide of all lives.
Here was he, the Light Of all ages. So
he speaks, Il am the Lighl OF the
world" Thes words come down to
us out of the old Hebrew temple. and
they pierce the enter of our modern
life.
8" am the Light of the world"
When the sun rose this morn
ing, it ound the world here in dark
ness. 1t vas torpid, heavy with sleep.
Its powers were all wrapped up in
sluggishness. The sun found the great
world sleeping and woke it. It called
to the dull birds and they sang their
mathis; 1t sent it's light over the fields
and painted hem in colors beyond the
power OF any artist to initiate: e
touched the flowers, and they opened
their petals to b glory of a new
morning.; its rays entered the houses,
and men awoke n began to move
about their daily duties. 1t was an
awakening. an energizing, a renewal OF
life, this mornings sunrise.
Even so it was when the Light of
the world rose upon mankind. 1t meant
an awakening. new energy, n renewal
OF life. No n can tell all that 1t
meant when Jesus came into the
world. for his coming had a thousand
meanings, it had ten thousand infiu-
ences which we are too dull to appre-
ciate n too short-sighted to observe.
But we know that when the Ligh. of
the world came it meant a new era
In history, and We know that when
Jesus comes into the human heart it
means a new era In that mans life.
Let us note n or two applications
which these texts point out to us:
Gods people of old were not led by
a road already mapped out. The route
was not chosen before they started.
But step by step and day by day they
were led. and Goo chose the route. Is
not Jesus the great Leader of his peo-
pie, and we have learnt a chief ar
tfcle of human wisdom IL we have
learnt to cave tomorrow to him.
Step by step he leads us. The way
may be dark and hidden from US. but
1t is all light and plain to him, for he
is the light.
AS the pillar of fire was given to
guide the host of Israel of Did. so is
Jesus the pillar Of light which guides
the church today. Yes, he stands to-
day in the midst of the host. males
tic. dominating the centuries. leading
the church as the great army OF
God.
One evidence that the Light of the
world is directing the movements Is
that the whole church is becoming
awake to it's duties and opportunities.
The light of the morning wakes not
only n class of men, but all far and
near. So the Light of the world ia
sending his rays today into all hearts.
Great movements are sweeping over
America today among the men of the
churches. They are realizing the folly
OF their own lethargy and indifference.
and are waking to the new morning
and a new days work. The house
wives have e astir long since,
Woman's devotion to her Lord and
her self sacrificing labors, have been
n of h glories Of the Christian
church from the beginning. And now
the Master is marshaling the men to
the front.