IT was late one summer's evening some years ago, as the searchlight party of a British man-of-war stood on the deck of their vessel and switched on their powerful light. The mighty beam swept round the horizon and came to rest on a small pleasure steamer which was slowly making its way to harbor. A Sunday School had been for an excursion down the river and was now almost home. The deck was crowded with children and their friends, and as the all-seeing searchlight enveloped the ship every detail was plainly visible to the sailors of the man-of-war. Some of the children could be seen fast asleep with great bunches of flowers tightly clasped in their arms! Some were hugging the prizes they had won in the games, and the amused sailors could see the tear-stains on some of the little faces, caused by minor accidents or disappointments of the otherwise happy day.
What a lot that light revealed! What a good thing that behind that all-powerful beam were only the friendly hands and kindly hearts of the English sailors. How different if an enemy had been there, for they were quite helpless to escape from that light which could travel much faster than their little steamer.
How it reminds us of a far greater light than any searchlight, for we read in the Bible that
God is Light,
1 John 1:55This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5). Who can possibly hide from a light like that? David tells us that it is impossible to hide from God, Psa. 139:7-127Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:7‑12). Our parents do not know all we do or say, and perhaps we think that nobody does. But God does, His all-seeing eyes, far more powerful and penetrating than the most brilliant searchlight, see everything. This perhaps is not a very pleasant thought, but the gospel is to tell us that
There is Love behind the Light.
Just as the searchlight about which we have been speaking was turned only by friendly hands, so the light of God that exposes us comes from a God who is only love. It is true that God is light, but it is equally true that
God is Love.
The God who knows all about us and our sins is the very One who loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us. Our sins could not be passed over, so Jesus shed His precious blood that they might all be washed away. He is now in heaven, a living Savior, where He waits for you to turn to Him and trust Him.
So we desire that every boy or girl who reads this little story may come to God through Jesus. You will find that you are fully exposed in the light of His presence, but behind the light that exposes is the love that saves.
A. G. D.