JOB was told by his father, one afternoon in the winter, to take two empty sacks to the miller, who lived in the next village. He said,
“Be sure you take the right road, Job; and as it will be quite dark before you can get back, you had better take the lantern with you.”
“O,” said Job, “I can find my way back in the dark with my eyes shut; there is no fear of my taking the wrong road.”
So off Job went with the sacks, and reached the village in daylight; but on coming back it began to get dark. There was neither moon nor stars visible, and it became quite dark. Job now wished he had brought the lantern, but on he went. He however became bewildered, and was at last quite at a loss as to where he was going. He stood still, not knowing what to do.
At length he heard a footstep, someone was approaching. It might be a foe, but what could he do? It turned out to be a man on his way home. Though afraid, Job mustered courage to ask his way to his father’s house. He was told he had taken the wrong road, and was quite out of the way.
The man was going the same road, and showed him the way, and at length he reached home—a sadder, if not a wiser boy, for having neglected his father’s advice.
How many there are in this world like Job. They not only try to find their way about in the earth, but even think they can find their way to heaven in the dark. God has provided a lamp to show the way to heaven. How foolish then to think of finding the way without that lamp. I hope you all know that I mean the Bible. God Himself calls it a lamp, or lantern. Be sure then you take the lantern.
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.
ML 12/24/1922