"THE LIGHT IS SWEET"
“THE LIGHT IS SWEET”
Ecclesiastes 11:7 - 10; Ecclesiastes 12:1,2
I desire to draw your attention to the subject of the light that has shone out through the preaching.
The preaching is the means God uses to spread the light. The gospel according to Mark is the gospel which gives light concerning the preaching, and it says at the end of that gospel that the Lord sat at the right hand of God. Having died for our sins and been raised by the power of God, He “sat at the right hand of God” Mark 16:19. It says that the disciples, going forth, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs following upon it. The Lord worked with them by signs. The words of the preachers were therefore confirmed by the signs. So, in that gospel, it is said that the word was to be preached to all the creation: “Go into all the world, and preach the glad tidings to all the creation” Mark 16:15. Paul says that indeed the glad tidings have been proclaimed in the whole creation. The light, then, has shone very specially in Europe. By Paul the preaching has been fully known. As to the Lord Jesus it is said, “Coming, he has preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off, and the glad tidings of peace to those who were nigh” Ephesians 2:17.
The light has been shed abroad — the light that God commanded and that shines in the face of Jesus Christ in heaven: it has shone in the hearts of men to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and that light has shone so clearly that, if any one does not believe by that light, he is lost, the god of this world having blinded his eyes so that the light of the glory of the glad tidings should not shine for him. However, this light shines for [p. 105] all; but he whose heart is blinded by the god of this world does not benefit by that light.
The book, from which I have read a passage, was written by a preacher. It says that he was “king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:1); he therefore had the means and was in a position to be accessible to men. Occupying the position of a king, he had the right of way, as our Lord Jesus Christ has the right to enter in everywhere: being exalted to the right hand of God, He has a right to all parts of the earth. So he has allowed the light to spread everywhere by means of the preaching. Paul said, “I, from Jerusalem, and in a circuit round to Illyricum, have fully preached the glad tidings of the Christ” Romans 15:19.
That light spread in the east, and it shines today that all may get the benefit of it. The whole western region also profits by this light, commercially and socially. Men speak approvingly of the light of the gospel, without having appropriated it for their own salvation. It says in Ecclesiastes, “The light is sweet, and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun”. We all know how great is the difference between the countries where the light shines and the pagan countries; but it may be that we approve the light, and that we are living in this world as if the light did not exist. Thousands of men are enjoying the benefits of this light, but it has not affected them as before God, for the object of the light is to expose men in the presence of God. The light having shone into Paul’s soul, he made the confession that he was the first of sinners and said, “Faithful is the word, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first” 1 Timothy 1:15. The light brought about repentance in his soul, and he obtained the pardon of his sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit; he was saved, as he had occasion to say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house” Acts 16:31.
Here, it is written, “The light is sweet”. A man may speak of the light with approval; but he may at the same time follow a path of sin and forget God, in this world. So, dear friends, we are recommended to remember “the days of darkness; for they shall be many”. It is said to the young man that he may walk in the ways of his heart, and in the sight of his eyes, but he is to remember that for all these things God will bring him into judgment.
I had the intention to say a few words to the young who are here this afternoon. The preacher speaks of the vanity of childhood and youth. In childhood and youth we look towards the world and seek the things of the world. Death appears to us to be a very long way off, for we think we must become old to die; but there is a large proportion of men who die in youth. It is not necessary to become old to die; many die in youth, hence the word: “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth”, instead of putting off decision for Christ till the “evil days”. You must seize the present opportunity. “Behold, now is the well-accepted time; behold, now the day of salvation” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring forth; it might not be the acceptable time, the day of salvation. It speaks here of a time when “the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars” will be darkened. Think of what that will be, in a physical sense, when the sun, the moon and the stars will be darkened! But it will be the same in a moral sense, for this era of grace is drawing to its close. The sun will be darkened. That does not mean that the Lord Jesus will no longer shine. As before, He will always shine in heaven, but the beneficent rays of His grace, the beams which shine in His face, will be withdrawn from the earth. Then there will be no more preaching of the gospel. Think, dear friends, what such darkness will be! The moon typifies the assembly. It is the assembly that reflects the [p. 107] light that shines in the face of Jesus. The moon will be darkened, for the assembly will be withdrawn from this earth and transported to heaven. Do we really believe that the Lord Jesus will come to translate the assembly? He will come, and when the assembly has been translated the moon will be darkened. The moon is still shining, though obscured on account of failure, but the light that shines, shines in the assembly. It is shed upon you, young people, through your believing parents, through the brethren and all believers. But who knows if that will not have ceased before tomorrow? Not a single star will shine. The stars refer to Christians individually. In almost every part of the world there are isolated believers who themselves also shine, reflecting the light of the sun.
John was shining in Patmos, beloved. He was isolated, but he was shining. He reflected the light of Christ in heaven; and one day it was said to him, “Come up here” Revelation 4:1. A voice was addressed to this isolated Christian, and told him to come up to heaven: that will be the case with each isolated believer. We shall be all carried away to heaven, and the light which shines through us will cease.
Will you run the risk of being left in darkness? Not only will the luminaries be darkened, but there will be miracles, signs and lying wonders, “because they have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved” 2 Thessalonians 2:10. The truth is spread, but men do not receive it in love. They are going to believe a lie. That is very solemn!
I would like to say to each of the young ones here: “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come”. The true light now shines. What condemns men is that the light has come, and they have preferred darkness. Most of those here love the light. We say, “The light is sweet”, but by that light we are judged. We have confessed our [p. 108] sins; we have believed on Jesus; we have received forgiveness. Think of the blessedness of being forgiven by God! I am forgiven. I know it through the light.
We desire that you yourselves may enter into the light, while it shines, for “the true light” (1 John 2:8) shines now.
Preaching by J.T. at Beauvoisin, 9th May, 1926, afternoon.