Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-25
Jesus the Life
and Light Of Men
Sermon by
KEW. FLOYD ". TOMiiINS.


Mo are to study the character and
N"rk or our dear chri". And "a. be-
tn by seeing Him as the life aud The
nSht or men. st. John in his wonder
hrst chapter gives us the message
under the guidance OF tn. HOLY Sriri;
me world WAS dark before Cnrist
"hie' Men could not Sc" their way:
~! were lost. seeking everywhere for
~H6h' TO guide them home WHY can
Ne not have happiness and peace
'"eE cried. Where did we cone from
ana what is our destiny" Are they iiv-
,hG who have gone from us and whose
."N"d bodies we have laid in the carth?
~ human relationship Il mockery last
ing lor time in such close in,inacy
ana then broken? Why does sin bcsc,
us and make uS miserable" What ig
'his awful power Of evil which roains
about the world killing Joy and res, ::
~ there Il God and If there is a God.
WY does He not speak 10 U.S. And
men. one dark night there was light
III the sky and the angels sang, and
Christ. the Light Of the World came
10 His own. Since then all who would
nave seen the light. We can answer
easily all the questions which puzzled
men long ago If ". look 10 Him who
~ our life. We know God. for lie has
been on earth and lived our human life
Win all It's joys and sorrows and
struggles and loves
CAS- CONQUER SIN
THROUGI Ills POWER
we know that We can conquer sin
and Satan through the power which
christ gives. We iuow that our dear
ones do not 70 frou US forever and
mat some glad day We shall see them
again. We know that We can bc happy
ana find peace in our own hearts how
ever the world may struggle about US
Tor Christ has left us Ills peace.
Peace | leave with YOU Mv peace |
va, t., "A 4
nave iribulation. but be OF good cheer
have overcome the world" SO our
Master said and His words have come
down through the centuries bringing
life and light wherever men listened
and believed them. aud they are as real
to-day AS IL "" SAW Him before US and
heard Him speak them to u.
Wherever there is light. lite follov.s
II keep my plant ia the dark cellar
II VII! not grow and soon 1t viii die
II ] bring IL out where the sun can
shine upon II and The rain moistcn its
roots II viii live and grow. Md what
Is true In the natural world is tru"
also In the spiritual world /. liz.
In gloom, in idi.ucss In doubt and fear
in sin and Indebtedness and selfish
ness. ! cannot grow into healthy man
hood. The good impulses in me die
the bad humors Of wickcdncss possess
me. ! am less than human But If /
let the light Of JOY shine within me
and rem cinbcr that | am Gods son.
redeemed from sin by Jesus Christ. IL
think OF others and Try TO help them
through ki-4!n"ss; II ! work to make
the world better and sing songs OF
faith and happiness as ! 20 along the
way. then grow stronger, sin falls
away AS finding no nourishmcnt in
me and my heart Is glad FOR know
! have new lii. which shall never
end All this Jesus Christ has brought
He light and M.
MARKED DIrEEHEN,E nErwEEN
EXISTING AND IIIiN,.
There is a marked difference he.
tween existing and living. Animals
exist. and som" m"n onlv exist because
they reject -h" life shat is offered
them. Take that poor drunkard lying
in the gutter, hopeless vile in body
and emotion. and place by his side
that sweet child knccling AT ting bed
side and talking TO God could there
possibly be found stronger contrast,
and IL y merely outward We know
they are TWO distinct beings. az far
removed one from the other as death
is removed from life. ts light is re-
moved from darkness. or take that
man who Is wraI, up in his husincss.
who never Co,s TO church or pr.,ys
or thinks OF God as having anything
TO do with his life and work ana
place by his side that devoted woman
carrying flowers To the sick, telling
the story rt Jesus 4" the little chill
dren gathered about her bringing
sunshine 20 the home and singing
praises In the church with l.nr whole
heart and soul. Are they not two dis
tinct beings one only exists. the
other lives Now This life comes from
Christ. The gentle mnistrant Is
serving Him Whom She loves AS She
goes here and there bringing mes
saGes and tokens o' giadncss Even
ar c1, L..
man wrapt In business is serving
himself. his own desires and pleasures
and leaving his soul quite ont Of the
question. never thinking CT heaven or
or the life beyord death. He exists.
but there is no life in him, oh. If
men once realized this difference how
changed they would bccorc, How
they would open their eyes ard see
things never seer by them before and
open their hearts ana feel new power
moving them 10 new strength and
courage. So Jesus Chris, came Ia
omen tho eyes and hearts Of men il
only they Will let Him: TO bring light
where there is darkness; to bring life
where there is only existence.
HOW CHRIST SHINES
on ouRfpATHw,Ys
love 10 think how Christ shines
upon the way and hanishcs darkness.
so that we go on our paths here and
thS'c anu icti Stle.A5. because
human we Will still ave doubts but
when we bring them this King He
drives them away. re ptaiions assail
but when We look to Him we have
power TO overcome them. 1t seems
strange to the earnest Christian that
men should find all sorts OF objections
to Christianity when to Him il is all
so plain and simple and natural. lie
hears men speak or he reads their
words i'll books and he cannot COM
prehend their dcniais. why do you
not believer he impulsivcly cries. and
they answer him. You are unlearned
and ignorant; we are wise and know
many things which are hidden from
you And yet your knowledge does
not bring YOU peace" he replies. And
then he recalls Christs words: IL
hank Thee, Father. that Thou hast
hid these Things from the wise and
prudent and hast revealed them unto
babes" And again. Except We be-
come as little children yc cannot enter
the kingdom OF God"
Is then knowledge destructive to
Christianity? Surely not. IL only we