RALPH had a flashlight which he liked to use at night whenever he went outside in the dark. But he did not know that God was going to use that flashlight in blessing to others.
One warm Sunday evening Ralph and his dad prepared to go to the gospel service. Taking his Bible Ralph was just about to leave when he thought, "I'll take my flashlight along. It might be dark when we're coming home."
As they drove along on their way to town big black clouds began to fill the sky, and soon they could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. It was dark when they reached the gospel hall but inside all was bright as day.
Then the storm broke overhead. Just as the preacher was reading from God's Word there was a brilliant flash of lightning and a loud clap of thunder. Then sudden darkness — the lights had gone out!
The speaker stopped reading. All was quiet. Then Ralph felt for his flashlight. The faithful little bulb gave forth light and oh, how brightly it shone in inky blackness.
Ralph handed it to his father who gave it to the preacher. The preacher began to read again from the blessed Book, and his message that night was about the darkness that reigns in our hearts until we know the Saviour.
That was a never-to-be-forgotten night for Ralph, sitting there in the dark and listening to a man speaking from the Bible while using a flashlight.
But that was a never-to-be-forgotten night to someone else sitting there in that little hall that night. God was using that flashlight and a man whose heart was darkened through sin heard the message and opened his heart to receive the glorious light of the gospel. The light of God's Word shone into his heart, dispelling all the gloom. Shortly afterwards he confessed the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.
God wants us, dear boys and girls, to trust Him for salvation and then to shine for Him in the darkness of this world. He tells us in His Word: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:1616Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16).
But one must be a child of His before he can shine for Him. You cannot shine for Jesus unless you have Himself who is the Light in your heart.
Messages of the Love of God 2/9/1975