Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-02
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
iBy j. A. f.ubnnk.

By j. A. Eubnnk.
For with Thee is the fountain OF life: In
Thy light shall see liSht"-Psalms
xxXvl O.
In extollng the mercy and loving kindness
OF God the Father, the rsaimist had vision
that stretches far down into the future.
Something like 1000 years thereafter.
descendant OF David felt within himself such
inspiration OF knowledge from the Father
that He unhestating!y proclaimed His mis-
sion: II am the Light OF the world: he that
fooweth Me shall not walk in darkness. but
shall have the light OF life
And when the rharisees. challenging tho
strength OF His statement, said unto Him.
Thou dearest record OF Thyselt: Thy record
is no, true then said Jesus. in HIS further
replies to them concerning His mission and
authority to teach. When ye have lifted up
the Son of man. then shall yc know THAI
am He. and tina; do nothing OF Myself: but
az My Father hath taught Nc. speak these
things. And He that sent Nc is with Nc: the
Father hath not left Nc alone: for 1 do always
those things that please Him."
In the second chapter OF Matthew IL Is
stated that certain wise men, bcholding a
star appear in The East. Travelled TO Jeru-
salem. made inquiries there, then follow ell
the star Of Bethlehem. where it stood over
the infant Jesus. The three wise men rep
resent seekers after truth
Twelve years thereafter. the Babe whom
they found in the manager appeared in
Jerusalem at the annual feas; which called
together all the people OF the Jewish faith
In the Holy City. The Boy disappeared from
His company and. after three days search by
His anxious parents and friends. was found
in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
doctors both hearing them and asking them
questions and all that heard Him were
astonished at HIS understanding and
swcrs"
After a preparation for His public work.
during much OF which time He worked at
the carpenters bench. Jesus At tho age OF
about so years. entered upon His ministry.
OF His work boy Nazareth, i: has
we'll been said: "Of al the pictures Time
has given Is finer than that OF n
sw""t-faced slender boy working BY the side
O, strong man in carpenter shop in the
little city OF Nazareth 1900 years ago. With
the simple tools OF those days He must have
heiped TO make many comfortable bench
and useful table. Maybe He built cradle
FOR some babe who not TO be born in
n nanger. or helped to lift into modes, be-
ing stable over which no star would ever
stop to shine Ia matchless brlliiancc He
must have done His work well. squarng each
loint and proving each level. for He was yet
TO start structure which would roof the
Centuries and which. TO endure. mus; be care
fully Planned and securely founded So
there. in Ioseph's carpenter Shop lie fash
forts make to play well our parts and
loving service upon which must rest all er-
toned in His heart and mind those beams OF
help in the lettering OF men and things And
hands.
His first work for was done with His
After this character OF preparation amid
Iow!Y SURROUNDINGS Jesus came 10 know men
and their needs. and in the love that springs
from pure heart He entered into all OF
the treasures OF knowledge which the Father
designed 10 reveal to the world through His
life and teachings He revealed the Great
Father Heart and in that perfect revelation,
He serves the everlasting ages and enables
all who accept and practice His teachings
to render like scrvicesn redccmng the world
from the curse OF ignorance and selfish greed.
Thus. in this twentieth century. are we
becoming increasingly the banehciaries OF
the vision which the Psalmist saw as he sang
o! the Righteousness and wisdom OF the Faith
er; In Thy light shall we light"
Let us. then in the confidence which David
possessed in the Cod which created both
him and us. join him in proclaiminE tails
message OF hope TO those who are about to
despair: Trust in the Lord. and do good.
SO shalt thou dwell in the land and verify
thou shalt he fed. Delight myself also in
the Lord and He shall give thee the de-
sires OF thpe hear;. Commit thy way unto
the Lord; trust also In Him: and He shall
bring u TO pass. And He shall bring forth
thy righteousness as the light. and thy judg-
mcnt as the MONDAY"