(v)

(v) G.Allan Brown

Genesis 1: 3-5; John 1: 4, 5; 1 John 1: 5

We have been singing together about a vessel of light which will come down one day out of the heaven from God having the glory of God, shining like a precious stone, showing something distinctive about the assembly as the vessel of light (Hymn 221). I just want to speak briefly on these verses we have read as to the distinction between light and darkness because whilst we look on to that eternal day of which we have sung, we remain still in a scene where there is moral darkness. It is of great importance that God made a distinction at the very beginning. God said, “Let there be light. And there was light” and then “God divided between the light and the darkness” and He gave them names. Darkness is morally the same thing as sin. We see it all around us, the whole scene is enveloped in moral darkness. Into that scene the Lord Jesus came. That was God’s intervention. The light was manifested in One in whom there was no sin, there never could be sin; not only that He did no sin, but it says, “in him sin is not”, 1 John 3: 5. Perfect light shone in the darkness. How sad, therefore, that the darkness apprehended it not. That is the current situation. We live in a world where moral darkness prevails and where the light is not apprehended. It is not apprehended by the world as such nor to the nation to which He came. It says, “He came to his own and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to be children of God” John 1: 12,13. There is something happening even in the midst of such darkness. There are persons who are being attracted to the light and who come under the influence of grace. All that we were, our sinful state, our sinful history, is met in the death of Christ, so now we, through grace, come into this vessel of light of which we have been singing. What we sang about is future, but this vessel is here upon the earth at the present time and she is the witness in a dark world to what is heavenly – heavenly light should shine through each one of us here. I have to ask myself is it in me? Is it in each one of us? It is a beautiful hymn we have sung and I have to say, How do I measure up to that?

Paul speaks of appearing as lights in a dark world. You have to represent God. That is why we are here in testimony, to represent God, that is why I felt it necessary to read the verse in 1 John 1 where it says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”. This is very testing, and I am tested myself as much as anyone would be, but if I am going to represent God in a dark world, can it be said of me practically that there is no darkness at all? This raises the question of motive. The brethren can only determine actions and words, but motive is something that God can see and He knows what is behind my actions and my deeds and my words. We have said this before and thought of it, that unless love is the motive power behind anything I do or say, then it is not only worthless, but it is harmful (see 1 Cor 13). Could that be said of me or you, dear brother or sister? There is no darkness at all? Is there an ulterior motive somewhere, is there a selfish motive somewhere? Is there something that would promote myself, my interests over against the interests of Christ? From the beginning God made that distinction. He gave a name to it, it is either darkness or it is light. Let us just look at ourselves, I do not want to sound depressing to the brethren because this is a glorious matter we have before us, this vessel that is reflecting the glory of God, it is going to come out one day ere long and display to a wondering universe that there will not be any darkness about her at all. It says, “her shining is like a stone most precious”, what a vessel she is! She is made up of persons like you and me and it is in this time that the refining process is going on and the darkness is being dispelled. John says also “the darkness is passing and the true light already shines”, (1 John 2: 8), may it pass practically. It may sound that we are aiming at something very high when we say this, but I believe it is the divine intent. Could it be said that in each one of us that there is no darkness at all? May it be so for His Name’s sake.

20 August 2002