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"SEND THE LIGHT" "Send the light ..." is the message of the old song. The sentiment is worthy of note, but it did not originate with the author of the song. Long ago, David prayed, "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacle" (Psa. 43:3). Three things strike our attention is this beautiful verse. Although they are old, they are relevant today. David prayed that God's light and truth be sent out. Can we identify with God's "light and truth" today? The Psalmist said, "thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psa. 119:105). Here we have God's light identified with his word. Jesus prayed, "sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth" (John 17:17). Now we have God's truth identified as his word. Hence, God's truth, light and word are all the same. We may be assured that God's light and truth have been sent out. God said through the prophet, "so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it (Isa. 55:11). Faithful men today still proclaim its purpose, and if used and accepted properly, it will save men's souls. Let us not only pray that God's word be sent, but let us do our part in sending it. Secondly, David prayed for God's light and truth to lead him. He knew the frailty of his own way. "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps" said Jeremiah (10:23). Again note Psalms 119:105. God's word was a light unto the path - the way that man walks. So long as man lets God lead, his path shall be "as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18). We need to learn this today. When we forsake God's ways for ours, we are doomed to eternal loss (Pro. 14:12). The popular slogan of the Greyhound Company used to be, "Take the bus and leave the driving to us." Our problem is in learning to leave the driving to God! He is safe; he knows the way. We make a fatal error when we try to to take the wheel away from God! Finally, David shows recognition as to where God's light and truth will lead. It will be to God's "holy hill." Do you want to finally be on God's holy hill? Then read Psalms 115!You can let others lead you - but they won't lead you to such a beautiful home as described here by David! Jesus once said, "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matt. 15:14). Its a very simple matter of where one wants to wind up - on God's holy hill or the ditch! Yes, let us sing long and loud, "Send The Light, The Blessed Gospel Light ..." But when we do, let us understand that we have an obligation to take that light to lost men. Not only that, it will lead us home to heaven; to God's eternal abode. David realized these three vital things regarding the sending of God's light. Do we know them as well? Do we pray, as he did, that the light be sent? Are we willing to let that light lead us? John said "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19). That wickedness is darkness of the greatest sort, and only the light of God's word can illuminate the hearts of men, showing them the way of salvation. - Bill Moseley |
