WHAT is it you want, my friend? asked a Christian gentleman of a man who had stayed after service and appeared to be in great distress. "I want light; give me light," was the reply. "Is it then so dark?" asked his friend. "Oh, yes, all dark! I can see nothing," and the tears streamed down his cheeks.
“‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'; will you not believe on Him?"
"I can see nothing, I can believe nothing. All is thick darkness," he replied.
Promise after promise from God's word was quoted to him, but all in vain. His cry still was, "O God, give me light."
It was touching to see the strong man weeping and struggling—yet he would not yield.
Ten o'clock came. Some of the friends urged him to go home, and come again next night, but he said, “No; this gentleman says I may find the light to-night, and I will not go home without it."
Time passed on, and a few of us still stayed with the poor fellow, who had grown quieter now.
“You think God will give me light?” he asked.
“I am sure He will, for He never turns away those who seek for Him with their whole heart."
“Then I will have it to-night," he replied. Every effort was used to point him to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world, but all received the same reply—
“It is all dark. I want light. Give me light!" At eleven o'clock his friend said to him—
“I have told you everything I can think of, but one."
“What is that?” he asked eagerly.
"If God does not see fit to give you light, are you willing to walk with Him in the dark?"
“No," he sorrowfully replied, " I am not."
“You have been walking by yourself in the dark. I do not ask you to do that. Will you walk with God?"
“I don't know," he said, thoughtfully.
“Will you say, 'Lord, I will walk alone no longer. I cast myself and my sins on Jesus, and take Him as my Savior, and I will walk with Thee in the dark until Thou dost give me light?’ Will you do this? "
“I will. Yes, I will trust Him even in the dark, but I do not feel any different."
As he spoke the cloud was lifted from his brow, and his countenance was lit with joy.
"It has come," he shouted, "all in a moment. Now it is light. The Lord is my light."
For a few moments he was lost in praise, then he shook hands with all present saying, “It is all right now."
He has walked in the light ever since, adorning the gospel of his God and Savior in all things, and often does he thank God for the memorable night when he stepped into the light by consenting to walk in the dark. The light was there, but he was blind; now his eyes are opened, and he rejoices in the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness. R. B. Y.