The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-09-28

the darkness. but shall have the light Of life
John 8:12.
Light is a fascinating subject for
study, and especially is that true
when we speak of spiritual light. In
the lessons of the next three months
we are to see the light which Christ
sheds on the problems of life today.
How appropriate to begin that
study by recognizing Christ as the
one true light of the world" He it
is who brought us out of darkness,
and it is from His light that we too
are lighted and become Gods lights
in this wicked world (Matt. 5:l4-16).
The story which presents our
Lord as the light and the light giver
is that of the man born blind. Four
choices confront US
l. Guesswork or Gods Glory wv.
1-5).
Men have an inordinate curiosity
about those who are handicapped or
crippled. Even the disciples of Je-
sus had fallen into the sad tendency
of seeing in one who needed their
help, case for theological specula-
ton rather than one in whom Gods
glory could be revealed.
Need without power to help is
depressing thing, and may encour-
age man to bit of scientific or re-
ligious guessWork. Here is speci-
men-let us examine it. How did
this happen? Who was responsible?
But when we know the power Of God,
guessing and theorizing is gone.
Here is help!
Jesus declared a great truth here
suffering is not necessarily the re-
suit of sin, nor for the purpose of
judgment or punishment. This man
was here that God might show His
grace and power.
Those who suffer in our day may
be the means of declaring God S
glory, either by His deliverance
from pain and sorrow, or by His
grace to bear the burden graciously
and for His glory.
II. Impossibility or Obedience wv.
6-0.
CLAY cannot bring sight to
mans eyes-anyone knows that! All
such a covering can do is to make
the darkness of sightless eyes even
more impenetrable. The blind man
might have reasoned that way. He
would have been entirely logical in
so doing-and he would have gone
right on being blind.
1t is possible to thrust from you
Gods richest blessing by insisting
that God work be done in accord
with your ability to understand.
But the blind man chose the ODE
dience of faith--''he went and
washed, and came seeing" Jesus is
the light of the world to those who
will believe. The blind man found it
so-we may also find it to be true, if
we will believe. The impossible be-
comes possible-with God, for with
God all things are possible" Jesus
said it (Matt. 1926; let us believe
it and act on it.
Ill. Controversy or Confession wv.
-, 34-38).
This is a great chapter, one in
which we see the glory of faith con-
trasted with the controversial small
ness of unbelieving men. The Phar-
isees we're religious men, but they
hated Jesus "a conbinatio possible
even in our day.. so they sought in
every possible way to discredit Him,
to deny the miracle, and to destroy
the one who was healed.
Against that dark background the
light of this mans faith shines the
more brightly, The more they tried
to confuse him, the deeper they en-
trapped themselves, as he answered
in simple faith.
Testimony is tremendously eff
fective thing, even though it must
cling to the elementary and blessed
truth Il was blind, now | see" ".
25). But note that he went on, and
under the tender ministry of Jesus,
he received his spiritual, as we'll as
his physical, sight. II believe
what majestic words, what trans
forming words, what Notwithstanding
words! Friend, do you believe on
Christ? If not, will you do it right
now?
Nv. Healing or Hardening wv. 49,
Az.
The same sun which softens the
wax hardens the mud. The light
which attracts some out of the dark
places causes others to shrink far
Their into the shadows lest they have
to give up their dark deeds and
thoughts.
So it was in this case. The blind
man who had faith, saw, and that
sight was the sight of the soul as
well as of the body. But the en-
Uttered Pharisees were only hard
ened in their sin. Because they
boasted of their spiritual sight which
made the ministry of Jesus unneces-
sary las they thought!, there was
nothing for Him to do but to leave
them in their darkness.
The light of Christ. which is 10
shine on the problems of life in the
lessons of the three months ahead
of US, will either bring men to the
light in faith, or confirm them in
their unbelief. Which is it to be in
your case and in that of those to
whom you minister?