As he had applied to himself one of the typical miracles of the wilderness, so here he represents himself as the antitype of the fiery pillar that led the Israelites during their long pilgrimage.

I. JESUS AS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life."

1. Jesus was a light to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. (Isa 13:6) Like the sun, his light is diffused through all nations of the earth.

2. He is the Light of truth to the understanding.. "In thy light shall they see light" (Psa 36:9). The light of truth to the understanding, the Light of love to the heart, the Light of righteousness to the conscience.

3. He is the light of glory. "The Lamb is the Light thereof" (Rev 21:23). Happy, therefore, are they who are his followers now.

II. THE BLESSING OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE LIGHT.

1. It is a blessing for those who are moving forward, not for those who are going backward into darkness. The allusion is to the Israelites following the guidance of the fiery pillar through the dark night. The believer follows, not precedes, the Light. Jesus goes before every man to make his way plain. Christian life is a following Jesus step by step.

2. The believer will not walk in darkness. Consider the significance of this darkness. There is danger in darkness. There is discomfort in darkness. There is fear in darkness. The believer is delivered from the darkness of ignorance, for once he knew not what he was, where he was, or whither he was going; of error, for he walks in the truth of the gospel; of unbelief, for he walks by faith in Christ; of sin for he sees Christ and enjoys the blessed promise, "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."

3. The believer shall have the Light of Life. This is the Light, which springs from life. "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of all men." Just as the light that is abroad over the world, reflected from object to object, streams from the sun, so all the Light that streams from the believers downward upon a dark world comes from Christ, the sun of Righteousness. It is the Light that issues in life. It is a growing Light; "it increases to the perfect day." It is a Light that can never be extinguished.

For those who have never been "born again"...we invite you today! The following "Guide", we trust, will help you! Also, those who have been "born again," but have "slipped back" (wandered away)...we invite you also to consider the "Guide"...and "come back home"! Here's a "Guide:"

How To Be Saved...

1. Confess to God that you are a sinner and deserve death. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

2. In sorrow, turn from your sins to God and ask His forgiveness. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts...let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him...He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).

3. Believing that "Christ died for our sins...was buried and rose again" (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4), trust Christ as Saviour and confess Him as Lord. "If thou shalt confess with Thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9). Then "As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6). [ The End ]