By Paul V. Reynolds
“Ye are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:14
“But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18
There is a diminishing factor to every light that is earth bound.
- A match lasts only a few seconds
- A candle lasts only a few hours
- A five year light bulb — perhaps a year.
Amazingly: the only light in this world that does not diminish is the “CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
From the sanctuary today we will preach — it — like — it — is!!!
If I was to select an illustration to prove the point and garner your attention it would he —
THE PERSIAN GULF WAR
At the conclusion of the bitter mid-east slaughter, hundreds of oil wells were set ablaze over the Kuwaiti sand dunes. At night these blazing infernos shed their light over much of the ravished country.
It was a sight!
Can you visualize it?
The tricky business of capping the wells were turned over to world famous, oil well professional fire fighters. They plugged the oil well casings at a rate of one hundreds per day. Still — it took them two years to complete the task.
NOW LISTEN TO THIS:
If the fires were left ablaze, their lights would still go out — IN TIME!
They would shine only so long as the oil energy in the ground held out.
SOONER OR LATER they would diminish and die. It’s called: “The law of diminishing returns.”
And here is something else to think about:
Astronomers tell us that even our sun has used up over half of its hydrogen energy — IT IS A DIMINISHING LIGHT!
THE NATIONS LIGHTS ARE DIMINISHING!
“And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.”
II Chronicles. 15:6
“Then said he unto them, nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.”
Luke 21:10
HERE ARE THE FACTS:
RUSSIA — Shone her light over one third of this world, for a generation … she now is weak; scattered; decayed and in chaos … her light is going out.
IRAQ — threatened the middle-east with it’s powerful army and potential for producing the atomic bomb —and germ warfare. She has been brought to her knees.
Her light barely flickers!
INDIA — since the assassination of Mr. Gandi, has not been able to get herself together.
Her light has diminished greatly!
CONGO (was Zaire) — Ex-dictator Mobutu killed it! Very little light left.
COLUMBIA — The drug lords have all hut snuffed out their light.
IRELAND — Religious bigotry and hatred has her light all but dead.
And let me weep and tell you about “O Canada — our home and native land!”
Canada has for a generation been the envy of the world. The United Nations gave her the No. 1 position for 1996 — 1997 as the most livable place on earth!” — but her light is dying!
Here’s the scoop: Two years ago, a referendum was held in Quebec to separate from Canada. The “YES” votes got 49.5%. The country faces another similar referendum within two years. The odds right now, are that the country will not survive!
Her light is struggling!
The above nations are indicative of every nation on earth.
IT’S LIGHTS OUT!
NOW: LET’S CONSIDER WORLD PERSONALITIES
MARGARET THATCHER — The iron lady one moment … her power base is destroyed the next moment she is gone — her light went out!
THE KENNEDYS — The idols of the liberal world
- Jack Kennedy was assassinated
- Robert Kennedy was murdered
- Edward Kennedy was deeply involved with a seaside sex-rape scare
- Joan Kennedy charged with drunken driving
The light of this most powerful family in the United States has been dying for a long time. BILL CLINTON’S light has been threatened by the Paula Jones sexual-harassment suit, and a dozen other issues. President or not.
And what shall I say more —
- Richard Nixon — Lights out!
- Ferdinand Marcos — Lights out
- Chairman Mao — Lights out!
And so it goes! Every light on earth will blaze — flicker — and die. YUCK !
So you say — “Aw, what’s the use?”
Please take it from me, — keep on looking!
Be encouraged! There is some late night good news!
THERE IS A LIGHT THAT DOES NOT DIMINISH! IT’S CALLED THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST”
“Ye are the light of the world …” Matthew 5:14
“Go tell it on the mountain — over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain — that Jesus Christ is born.”
Sing Saint — Sing!
Join Mahalia Jackson as she shakes the walls of the sanctuary with song.
It’s something tossing about!
Oh Hallelujah!!!
Since the glorious advent of Jesus Christ — light sprang forth.
- John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world …”
- John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
- John 1:9 “That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
And then! …
And then he lit his light in the bosom of the church! It will never go out. It glows brighter and brighter with each passing day.
Go ahead. Read the scriptures you’ll be glad you did. Share your Bible with someone sitting in your pew. Let’s read them together.
- Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot he hid.
- Acts 13:47 “I have set thee to he a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldest he for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”
- Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise shine for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee for, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; hut the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall he seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising.
- And then our text:
- Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
POWERFUL! WONDERFUL!
Throughout the ages “Man and his World” have tried to:
- burn the church down
- lock the church up
- slay the church and thus, silence her.
“Well,” … you guessed it! Her flame keeps getting brighter.
The path of the just is as a shining light that groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18
So — let’s talk about the church and her growth in my generation.
BETTER YET let me start with a personal illustration:
It I were to write my memoirs, several chapters would have to he given to the growth of the United Pentecostal Church of Jamaica. I watched it’s phenomenal growth both as a “missionary kid” and then, as a Missionary under appointment.
At the risk of sounding proud (which I am when it comes to the church!) let me tell you about my “isle in the sun.”
My Father, after an auction sale, took our family there in 1947. Our missionary society was extremely small.
The “Jamaican Pentecostals” had a light that was barely lit. As a boy, I took a lot of flak for being a part of the “clap hand” people. I was pressured and scoffed at in school. I was the missionary “kid” whose church sanctuary was on the bottom floor of a big, old house in Kingston’s skid row. Three rum bars and a red light establishment shared the city block.
But that was then — and this is now!
Those Babylonian surroundings did not stop the church. The United Pentecostal Church of Jamaica’s flickering flame has become a raging “prairie fire” that spread to every corner of the island. The little group of people on Wildman Street which my father led, now worships in one of the largest and most beautiful church buildings in all of the Caribbean. So beautiful that the Jamaican Postal Authorities put it’s picture on a postage stamp!
Say What?!
That’s right!
The same church that was scoffed and sneered at a few years ago now is publicized by every one who sends a letter.
Why?
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18
Can I get a “YES” witness?
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!! And that’s not all —
Our missionary society during my father’s first term on the field, was only active in China … Columbia … South Africa … India … Ceylon and maybe one or two more countries besides Jamaica.
That was then — 1947 — 1952!
But now — the United Pentecostal Church has lights turned on in Asia. Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Japan.
Africa: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namitus, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Uganda.
Central America and Caribbean: Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Leeward Islands, Netherland Islands, Windward Islands, Guiana, Suriname, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Bahama Islands, Trinidad, Tobago, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize and Mexico.
Europe and Middle East: Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cypress, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel, Eastern Europe, Austria, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Great Britain.
Pacific Region: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Tonga.
South America: Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chili, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
Let’s worship the Lord right now!
It church “Light Shining” time!
And … and … I know I know — It’s getting brighter, and brighter! Oh! Hallelujah!!!
The church is the only light on earth that does not diminish!
So — What kind of church is this?
- It’s a growing church
- It’s a powerful church
- It’s a pure church
- It’s a blood bought church
- It’s a spirit filled church
- It’s a devil chasing church
- It’s glorious church
- It’s a victorious church
“The path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
IT’S ALTAR TIME.
The text mentioned “THE PERFECT DAY.”
It’s all — but here!
I can hear the sound of his coming. The only safe hiding place is in the bosom of the church — and only Jesus can put you in it. Jesus wants to heal that broken heart and dry those falling tears right now.
While the organ is playing and the saints are praying and the Angels are waiting.— COME TO JESUS!
You can’t join the church hut you can he horn into it. The climate around this altar is going to make that happen!
THANK YOU JESUS! THEY ARE COMING!
The above article, “The Light That Does Not Diminish” was written by Paul V. Reynolds. The article was excerpted from chapter four in Reynolds’ book, In The Sanctuary- Unto the Elect Lady.
The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
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