Up in Bobby’s attic, among grandfather’s old things, was a rusty old dusty lantern. Nobody cared that the spiders had been quite at home in it for years. If Mother had cleaned the attic she would probably have thrown. it away, for it was an old-fashioned thing, and they had plenty of electric lights downstairs.
One day, the electric lights failed. Not once, but many times the household was left in darkness on a winter evening. Bobby remembered the dusty old lantern he had seen among Grandfather’s things in the attic, and what a wonderful discovery that was!
No more fumbling and stumbling in darkened hall, for the owner of that lantern. They must do without the bright glare of electric lights, but the faithful old lantern always threw plenty of light for the one who used it. Bobby dusted it off with extra pleasure because Mother said that it was his.
There was another old Lamp in Bobby’s attic, older, dustier, but far more precious than the lantern which was now shining in Mother’s kitchen. There it lay among Grandfather’s things, unloved and uncared for. It had already lighted the old man’s path to heaven, and it was ready to do the same thing for Bobby, but he did not know that he needed it.
This precious Lamp is the Word of God. Its light is clear and steady, lighting the path to glory for anyone who feels the need of it. Bobby’s young feet have already had many a stumble in the paths of sin, but the little boy has been satisfied with the opinions of others for his “light,” and has never let the light of the Word of God shine upon his path at all. Bobby does not know the Lord Jesus. He has not yet taken one step upon the path to heaven.
Have you this wonderful Lamp m your house, my reader? Is it dusty and unused? If you leave it unloved and unread, your feet will stumble upon the paths of sin until you reach the end of that broad road—destruction—the lake of fire. Do not wait until all the lights of this world go out for you in death, because you will then be in outer darkness, without the Light which you are refusing today. Let the light of God’s Word shine unto your heart now.
ML 11/19/1950