The Gospel Day; Or, the Light of Christianity. Charles Ebert Orr
that the light of the sun and the brightness of the moon is not to be compared to the transcendent light of Christianity. Whose heart has not been touched with a feeling of admiration as they beheld the bright dawning of the round, red sun, or the beautiful rising of a full moon? These are not to be compared with the “brightness of the rising” of the gospel day. “To them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Mat. 4:16. “Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring [sun rising—margin] from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that [pg 031] sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78, 79.
Jesus says of himself, “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” Rev. 22:16. Christ speaking to the church at Thyatira, says to those that overcome and keep his works unto the end, that he will give them the morning star. Rev. 2:28. He will give them the true light and glory of Christianity, or his own light and nature. All will do well to take heed to do his works “until the day dawn and the day star arise in their hearts.”
In the natural world there is a literal solar system consisting of the sun, moon and planets. The sun is the center around which all the planets revolve, and from which they receive their light. The moon borrows its light from the sun. When some object interposes between the moon and the sun the moon is left in darkness. In the spiritual world there is a spiritual solar system consisting of sun, moon and stars. As in the literal system, the moon and stars revolve around the Sun and borrow their light therefrom.
The Spiritual Sun Or Light.
It is not difficult to glean from the Scriptures the knowledge of the true center of this spiritual solar system, or the true source of light. The last writer of the Old Testament Scriptures, in his last [pg 032] chapter says: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” All understand this text to refer to the Lord Jesus. His visitation to this world, through the mercy of God, is termed, “The sun-rising.” Luke 1:78, margin. Christ is the Sun and true source of light of the gospel day. The church of God collectively is the moon of this spiritual solar system, and its individual members are the stars. In the Savior's prophecy as recorded in Mark 13:24, 25, the term “sun” is a metaphor, signifying Christ; the “moon,” the church, as a whole; the “stars,” Christians, or especially the ministry.
This darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars we will clearly explain in part second of this work. The church of God receives its light from Jesus. He is “the light of the world.” In the language of Isa. 60:1 the church is addressed: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come.” Christ is her light. The church shines by the light of Christ, as the moon shines by the light of the sun. “Out of Zion [the church of God], the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.” The church as a whole is a brilliant reflector to reflect the light of Christ to this universe. Every Christian is a bright spot in this luminous reflector. Amen. “Let your light so shine.”
A few years ago, one beautiful Sunday summer evening, as we were on our way to an appointed meeting, we observed the moon rising in the splendor [pg 033] of its fulness. It shed its soft, peaceful rays over the earth in marked beauty. After a short time we became aware of a gathering darkness. On looking up we saw a dark object gathering over the moon. Slowly, but surely the dark object crept on until all was darkened. Not one ray of light fell from the moon. The sun had ceased to shine upon her. We understood that the world had come in between the sun and the moon and obstructed the sun's rays. The same is true of the spiritual moon, the church. In the first few centuries of this Christian day it shone with the light and glory of God, but the time came when the “moon [church] ceased to give her light,” and all because, as we will learn, the world came between it and the Sun (Christ).
Christian Power And Purity.
Christianity is a light in this world because of the greatness of its power and the excellence of its purity. John, who is denominated the forerunner of Jesus, or the heralding star of Christianity, said that “he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:8, 9. Of whom speaketh the prophet then? The Son of God will answer this question in these words: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. Jesus was the light of the world because [pg 034] of his power and purity. All power was given unto him in heaven and in earth. Mat. 28:18.
He was holy, harmless and undefiled. Heb. 7:26. The Lord Jesus lived a pure and holy life. “He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” He had power to open the blind eyes, to unstop the deaf ears, to loose the dumb tongue, to make the lame man leap as a hart, and to heal all manner of diseases, and to raise the dead. There is no sin in heaven; there is no sickness there. He brought the light of heaven to this world in displaying his power over sin and disease. Glory to his name!
We wish to impress this fact upon the reader's mind that he was a light because of his purity and power, and because he was the “Truth.” And now if you will but believe it, that is the true light of Christianity. The Lord Jesus was only a visitant. His stay on earth was transient. He came from heaven, and heaven soon again received him. Referring to his departure he said to his disciples: “Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light; … while ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” John 12:35, 36.
Again he says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5. We learn the sad story of his crucifixion, then the glad news of his resurrection, and then his ascension in a cloud to the glory, from whence he came. Is the light of Christianity [pg 035] gone from the world? Is this world left again in darkness? No; thank God! Jesus now says to his devoted followers: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hid.” Mat. 5:14. It is the “city of Zion, the perfection of beauty,” out of which God doth shine. “The glory of God is risen upon her.” Jesus told them to believe in the light while they had the light, that they might be the children of light. Paul, in exhorting Christians to a holy life, said: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Phil. 2:15. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Eph. 5:8. “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thes. 5:5.
This is the spiritual moon reflecting the light of the Sun. It is “God that shineth in thee.” They are “light in the Lord,” and they are commanded to “let their light shine, that God might be glorified.” This is beautiful. Oh, what a privilege
To be a vessel transparent,
Clear as the crystal sea,
Letting the glorious light of heaven
Brilliantly shine through thee.
Beloved saints, take heed that there be not one spot in thee to obstruct the light of God. “Let it shine.” [pg 036] Submissively place thyself in the crucible and there be polished and refined and purged and cleansed until thou art “purer than snow, and whiter than milk, and more ruddy than rubies.”
How can the Lord now, since his ascension, shine through his church? The Scriptures make this very plain. Jesus told his own that he would not long be with them, but said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:16–18.
In verse twenty-six he tells us the Comforter