The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-06-22
Christians as Shin
ing Lights
By REV. II. M. TIMMONS
Pastor Washington Az Methodist Church. Houston Tex

TEXT-Ye are the light of the world
Matthew 8. 16.
One of the greatest utterances of
any age is the sermon on the mount
1t 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, I'VE are the light of the
world" There is really no discrep-
ancy here for we say the lamp lights
the room yet in reality ii 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
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
tian 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 af.
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
man be possessed OF a good character
If he should hold a position in their
affections. II IS so in business. and
becoming more and more so in pol
itics. Eloquence has charmed it's mil
lions, but there is no eloquence quite
so powerful as a good man S 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 brilliance of our
lives by the effort we put forth for the
conversion of others. 'Tis here that
many Christians exhibit practical self
ishness or else they do not value their
religion very highly If it is what We
claim for 1t then we should desire it
for all people.
There is negative side to this ques-
ton We should remove everything
that tends either to obscure or hide
our light, or which so affects it as to
make II suggestive of ourselves rather
than of God 1t is usually the small
things that hide most effectively A
lighthouse keeper once lighted his
well-trimmed lamps. A few hours
later he was notified that his light
was out On examination II 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 it is there first business to tell
people of it. If you are a Christian
no one knows it better than your near
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 ef-
fective Christian life is that one which
leads people to think not so much Of
the person, but Of the Christ that is
being lived.
The Spirit ~ M..Ln.e,