John 8:12-20
Suggested further reading: 1 John 1:5 - 2:2
Let us notice in these verses what the Lord Jesus says of those
that follow him. He promises, `He that followeth me shall not walk
in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'
To follow Christ is to commit ourselves wholly and entirely
to him as our only Leader and Saviour and to submit ourselves to
him in every matter, both of doctrine and practice. `Following' is
only another word for `believing'. It is the same act of soul, only
seen from a different point of view. As Israel followed the pillar of
cloud and fire in all their journeyings — moving whenever it
moved, stopping whenever it tarried, asking no questions, marching on
in faith — so must a man deal with Christ. He must `follow the
Lamb whithersoever he goeth' (Rev. 14:4).
He that so follows Christ shall `not walk in darkness'. He
shall not be left in ignorance, like the many around him. He shall
not grope in doubt and uncertainty, but shall see the way to heaven
and know where he is going. He `shall have the light of life'. He
shall feel within him the light of God's countenance shining on him.
He shall find in his conscience and understanding a living light
which nothing can altogether quench. The lights with which many
please themselves shall go out in the valley of the shadow of death
and prove worse than useless. But the light that Christ gives to
everyone that follows him shall never fail.
And now, where are we ourselves? Do we know? Many
are living and dying in a kind of fog. Where are we going? Can
we give a satisfactory answer? Hundreds go out of existence in
utter uncertainty. Let us leave nothing uncertain that concerns our
everlasting salvation.
For meditation: There can be no better leader and teacher
than he who is the truth and the way to God (John 14:6).
|