Lights in the World

Lights in the World

Prepared on October 5, 1945 by W.H. Wood

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2:14-16

The scriptures written many years ago are contemporaneous with events and conditions of today.  They are just as applicable to life today as when written.  Paul lived in a wicked and perverse age.   Crookedness, perversity, and darkness exist today.  Just as lights were needed to shine in the world then, so lights are needed to dispel the world’s darkness today.

The world lay in darkness at the beginning of the Christian era and the darkness was as dense as the blackest night.  It was a disenchanted world into which Christ was born.  Religion had failed.  Governments had failed.  Philosophy could not satisfy the longing of men’s hearts.  Heathendom was rampant.  Slavery was universal.  Colossal wickedness existed everywhere.

We live in a disenchanted and terribly confused era of the world’s history.  It is an entirely different world from what we thought a generation ago it would be today.  Faith in democracy has been shattered; rise of nationalism; racial animosities; wars and rumors of wars, intemperance, gambling, indifference to religion, suicides and divorces are on the increase.  Pessimistic philosophies of life are prevailing everywhere.

Christianity, the Christian church and all Christians have a definite function in this dark age.  We should do all things without murmuring and questioning or complaining and doubting.  We should become blameless and harmless children of light not responsible for this wickedness.  We should be lights in this world.  Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify the Father which is in heaven.”

The University of the Spirit

The University of the Spirit

Prepared on August 30, 1945 by W.H. Wood in the A.M.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

The only entrance requirement:

            Dissatisfaction with present conditions. 

Paul – “I count not myself to have apprehended” – seize or take a mental hold of. 

Isaiah – “I am – unclean”.

Peter – “wept bitterly”.

Freshman year:

            We must learn to conquer failure.  “forgetting those things which are behind”. 

                        Elijah’s hard year.

                        Judas never got past it. 

Sophomore year:

            We must become visionary.   “Reaching forth unto”.

                        Moses – “saw him who is invisible”.

                        Abraham – “looked for a city…”

Junior year:

            We must learn to plod incessantly (continuous).  “I press toward the mark”

Senior year:

            Specialization – “This one thing”.

                        Paul – Had his pride to conquer.

                        Moses – Had his timidity to conquer.

                        The rich young ruler had locked “one thing”.

Diploma:        

            “The prize” 

Automobile Religion

Automobile Religion

Prepared on August 28, 1946 by W.H. Wood

“So run that ye may obtain” 1 Corinthians 9:24

Many rules that govern safe driving also govern us in our Christian life and conduct. 

Perhaps the first quality we demand in an automobile is dependability.  And God requires that His followers be found faithful. 

We need to be careful with our steering.  Careless steering endangers our lives.  We must keep to the right; and watch out for children; keep wide awake and alert at all times; and watch out for danger signs, and detour when necessary.

We must study the road map – The Bible.  Some people may be bound for heaven, as they say, but they are going in the opposite direction.  We must keep on the lookout for evidence that we are on the King’s highway.

We must be prepared for emergencies.  Have plenty of fuel (remember the foolish virgins).  We should have a first-aid outfit (the Good Samaritan). 

We should have good brakes.  Have you habits that you can’t stop?  Many people know how to run a car who can’t stop it properly.  Many people who are Christians lack adequate control of their human natures, their tongues, their wills.

We must keep the battery charged.  Regular visits to God’s service station – the church.  “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”.  We must avoid the experience of Samson – “He wist not that the Lord departed from him.”