The Penn's Grove record., 1911-06-09
Christians as Shin
ing Lights
TExT-Ye are the light of h world
Matthew 5, 16.
By REV. H. M. TIMMONS
Pastor Washington Az. Methodistc Church. Houston. Tea.

-
One of the greatest u~tterances OF
any age is the sermon on the mount.
It was spoken to the disciples. There
is nothing in 1t directly addressed to
the unsaved. Christ is the light OF
the world. We understand that, yet
He says, Eye are the light OF the
world" There is really no discrep-
ancy here for we say the lamp lights
the room yet in reality 1t Is the oil In
the lamp that gives the light. There
is in us no light by reason OF our be
ing, but still we are the light OF the
world. Christ is the light and we re-
fleet His light. We shine insofar as
we act so He can shine through us.
There are degrees In Christianity. One
light shines more brightly than an
other. according to the amount OF oil
and general condition Of the lamp. One
Christian shines more brightly than
another, according to the place he re-
serves for Christ in his life and the
character of life he lives.
We have the positive Injunction that
Christians are to do everything In
their power to secure that their light
shine as brightly as possible.
We are to do this by the position
we take up. A lamp on the floor will
not give as much light as when sus-
pended from the ceiling. The Chris
tan position is the most exalted one
in the world. All civilization Is
caused by Christianity.
All learning that has ever benefited
the race has been fostered by Chris
tianity.
The fact that we are Christians
should give us more pleasure than
anything. We are not only individual
Christians, but we are members OF
society, and what affects society al
fects us and vice versa.
We shine by the character we form.
Character is the most important thing
in the world. We may have great
wealth, but If we have not a wealth
Of character we are poor indeed. We
may have all the polish society can
give us, but If we have not a brilliant
character we shine very poorly. The
world is demanding character as never
before. To say nothing Of religion,
the world at large demands that a
man be possessed of a good character
II he should hold a position in their
affections. 1t is so in business, and
becoming more and more so in pol
tics. EloQuence has charmed its mil
lions, but there Is no %eloquence quite
30 powerful as a good mans life. Some
men are remembered because of their
eloquence, but If there is also strong
manhood they are all the more I'M
mortal.
We increase the b~rilliance of our
lives by the effort we put forth for the
conversion of others. IT'S here that
many Christians exhibit practical self
lshness or else they do not value their
religion very highly. If 1t is what we
claim for 1t then we should desire 1t
for all people.
There is a negative side to this ques.
ion. We should remove everything
that tends either to obscure or hide
our light, or which so affects 1t as to
make it suggestive of ourselves rather
than of God. 1t is usually the small
things that hide most effectively. A
lighthouse keeper once lighted his
welltrimmed lamps. A few hours
later he was notified that his light
was out. On examination 1t was found
that thousands of tiny insects had
covered the lamp. Surrounding some
Of us there is such a cloud Of sin till
the light If there be any cannot shine
through.
We should keep ourselves clean OF
all practical inconsistencies. Incon-
sistency is impenetrable. We should
avoid all self display. Many people
who profess to be Christians seem to
think 1t is there first business to tell
people Of 1t. If you are a Christian
no one knows it better than your lear.
est neighbor. 1t is not your preroga-
tive to glorify yourself, but God. The
most attractive style In writing is that
simple style which leads one to think
Of the subject matter rather than the
style of the author.
So the most beautiful and most eff
iective Christian life is that one which
leads people to think not SO much OF
the person, but Of the Christ that Is
being lived.