THE GUIDING LIGHT

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  (John 8:12) NKJV

 It was the Feast of Tabernacles when our Lord spoke the words of our text, and it is supposed they were lighting the two great candelabra, which commemorated the fire-cloud that led the desert march. It was in direct allusion to the fiery pillar that our Lord used this metaphor. What that was to Israel, He is to His Church.

The wilderness was a trackless waste to Israel. The people absolutely depended on the cloud to show them their path, and to find a resting-place at night. When it gathered itself up from the tabernacle, the people pack up their tents and follow. However desirable the site of their camp, they had to leave it; however difficult the desert paths, they had to go over them; however uninviting the spot where it stopped, they had to stop there, and remain as long as it tarried. To linger was to run the risk of wandering aimlessly in the desert till death over took them. Only where the cloud rested did the manna fall, the water flow, and the divine protection avail.

There are resting-times in our lives. God graciously arranges green pastures and quiet waters, and makes us to lie down. His voice speaks amid the turmoil of our existence, and bids us come aside and rest awhile. But often we fret against compulsory rest; we persist in hurrying to and fro, and give way to total exhaustion. When the cloud stays, remain where you are. Stop, when you do not know what to do and wait until some guidance shows you your path.

There are, however, times for action. The alarm is heard with its warning, to which we must give immediate attention. When the sleeper refuses to arise instantly at the sound of the alarm, he soon becomes so accustomed to it that it doesn’t bother him anymore. If we accustom ourselves to it’s warning, we will gain sensitivity to its sound resulting in instant obedience.   It is much like the firefighter responding instantly to the sound of the fire alarm.

The peace and usefulness of our earthly life will be in direct proportion to our following of the Lord Jesus for all the demands of our earthly existence. It’s just like the lights inside a train.  The lights come on just before entering a dark tunnel.   So it is when we are following the leader, Christ.  He will precede us and will light the way through the dark and crooked paths that life sometime finds us on. 

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.  (Isaiah 42:160) NKJV

Instantly heed the warnings found in God’s Word and trust Him in times of darkness and receive the same promise as Joshua had when he was about to take possession of the promised land:  No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.  (Joshua 1:5) NKJV

PRAYER

Oh Lord, send out your light and your truth, and let them lead me and bring me at last to your house in peace. In Christ’s name we pray, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #5:
I chose you to be adopted into My family before creation.

Ephesians 1:4-5 (WEB) 
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; 5 having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,