Looking for a Change

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
WHEN the day dawns, and midnight darkness disappears, you do not hear the tramping feet of daylight coming in or the flapping wings of darkness going out. God does not bring daylight in in that way. The daylight quietly comes in, and drives the darkness quietly out; and you know that without any convulsion the light has come in, and the darkness is gone.
You sow seed in the fields, and it grows up, pushing aside the clods so silently, until by-and-by the fields are rich with corn. What a change has taken place! But it has not come about with sudden convulsion as of an earthquake; it came about just as quietly as in the case of the daylight.
Many of the movements in creation are thus silent. The sun rises in the morning, and shines upon the earth; and, speaking after the manner of men, it makes no noise. So is it when divine light shines in upon the soul. Great indeed, I grant, is the difference between midnight and noonday between seed-time and harvest; yet neither of these changes is brought about with great and sudden convulsions. Look at the stars moving along the skies; they make no noise. Or look at the budding rose upon the tree, unfolding morning by morning so, quietly, until it becomes a full-blown rose.
Some persons know the day when they were converted. A Saul of Tarsus will never forget the day. And some know the night. A Philippian jailer will never forget the night.
But some know neither the day nor the night.
“The Lord opened" Lydia's "heart." That Is as the way Lydia was converted. Her heart was opened as quietly as the dawning of the day. People who are brought up under exciting religious teaching are often expecting visions, but you do not so find it in the case of Lydia. In the conversion of some, there is no more noise than in the dawning of the day.
“The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” The Lord Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [or judgment]." "HATH everlasting life"; that is the beginning of a new career; that is what conversion is. It is change of position, as well as of condition. “Shall not come into condemnation [or judgment]; but is PASSED from death unto life." “IS PASSED from death unto life "; that is, passed from one state into another. But you must not expect to rejoice before you believe the fact.
(See Acts 16:1414And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14) ACT 16:1414And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14) ("A still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:1212And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:12) 1KI 19:1212And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:12).) Psalm 119:130130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130) PSA 119:130130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130) John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). JOH 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24) 1 John 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11) 1JO 5:1111And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)