When the blessed Lord Jesus was here He could say, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:55As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)). The world would not have Him, but chose “darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:1919And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)). At Calvary’s cross they blotted out the Light of the world and rejoiced in the darkness.
On the day of Pentecost God in His continued merciful dealing with man, set up a new light in the world – the Church. In the first chapter of the book of Revelation, we see the Lord Jesus walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Now a candlestick is for the purpose of holding a candle, and a candle is for the purpose of giving out light. Jesus, said, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house” (Matt. 5:1515Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (Matthew 5:15)).
What a solemn thing then for us to think that today the only divine light that shines upon this poor dark world is the light of the Church of God. Just in the measure that the Church is faithful to her position as light bearer, just in that measure does the truth of God shine out as a beacon for the lost world.
When the electricians come to wire our houses, why do they put the electric lights in the ceiling rather than in the floor? Why are street lights strung high above the thoroughfare rather than placed like the water plugs, along side of the walks? Why does not the government place its great search lights on floating buoys like the warning bells, instead of in the pinnacle of some great stone lighthouse? Is it not because the extent of illumination is in proportion to the elevation. The higher you place the light, the greater the territory illuminated. Does this illustration not bring before us, young Christians, the secret of the dim clouded light that shines out from the Church of God today? The Lord Jesus never intended the Church to be a part of the world, nor to take part in the world. James said in Acts 15:1414Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14), “God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.” In other words God is taking out from the world a people and forming them into one body – the Church, and the Head and Center of that Church is a living Christ in heaven. The promises set before this Church were all heavenly (Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)). Her calling was a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:11Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)); her destiny a heavenly destiny; (1 Thess. 4:13-1813But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18)); her citizenship a heavenly citizenship (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)).
In the beginning when God’s Church maintained this place of separation from the world, her pure light revealing the ugly sores of the sin-cursed creation, the world sought to do to her what it had done to her Head. All the power and authority of the mighty Roman Empire was directed toward extinguishing this divine light. Christians were hounded like beasts; their burning bodies illuminated the gladiatorial contests of the emperors, and their bodies were rent limb from limb for no other reason than that their profession and life condemned the guilty conscience of the world.
But what a change soon took place! Satan, baffled in his efforts to snuff out the light of the world through persecution, turned himself to cunning flatteries. The world now made promises to the Church that if only they would cast in their lot with them they should become great among the institutions of the world. Christians were urged to accept offices in worldly government; to become politicians, and seek to manage the world according to Christian principles. The result was appalling. Instead of the Church elevating the world, the Church had descended from her high position as light bearer to the low level of the world. Instead of being a people taken out from the world they were now a great mass of profession, hopelessly mixed with the world in such a manner that only God knew those that were His (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)). The Church now must vie with the world. If the world had great governmental buildings, the Church must have grand structures in competition. The world had music and operas; the Church must have gowned choirs and orchestras. The world had silver tongued orators; the Church must have polished preachers. Nations boasted of conquest and increasing wealth; the Church then must have numbers and a rich membership among the rich.
In busying herself with the world’s affairs, and the world’s ways, the Church lost sight of her mission, and the sense of her responsibility to her Head in the glory. Now her energies were expended in abolishing drunkenness in the world; in putting good men into the world’s governmental positions and establishing social centers, where the world might better gather for sports and plays. She sought the spread of education, thinking thus to lead men into more useful lives in the world. But the fact that she was here to testify to the truth, that this poor world was doomed; that wrath was coming; that judgment was about to break; that God was about to take vengeance on the world for the murder and continued rejection of His Son – all these things were practically forgotten. The result is the condition in which you and I find the professing Church today.
Now young Christian, if you and I by God’s grace have had our eyes opened to see this sad, retrogression in the Church, does not God hold us responsible to get back to New Testament principles and practice; to trim our lamps; to take our place outside with the rejected Christ, waiting for Him to come from heaven (Heb. 13:12-1312Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:12‑13)). Let us then have done with the world, its policies, its schemes, its politics, its wars, its principles. Let our very stand in the midst of it be a testimony against it and our Christ be presented to it as its only refuge where to find peace and joy, safety and happiness. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:17-1817Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17‑18)).