published by
The Words Group
700 Sleater-Kinney Road
Suite 303-B
Lacey, Washington
98503 USA
part
one
Who Do You Say that I Am?
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The
Light That Has Lighted the World
I
have come to be a light to the world, that whoever believes in me
should not remain in darkness. I am the light that has lighted the
world; they that follow me will never again walk in darkness, but
live their lives in the light.
Herein lies
the supreme test: that such a brilliant light has come in to this
dark world. Yet the inhabitants of this earth love darkness more
than light, because their actions are blinded by selfishness and
greed. So it is, those who give their lives to evil hate the light
of truth, fearful that their actions will be witnessed and condemned.
In contrast, they that do the truth step freely into the light so
that their actions may be seen, for their works are pleasing to
God.
Once, you journeyed
into the wilderness to listen to John, the prophet you called, the
Baptiser. He spoke to you of the truth. He was a burning and shining
light: and you were willing, at least for a while, to follow him.
Now, one has come with a greater demonstration of power than John,
for the work that my Father has given me to accomplish, the very
acts which I perform now in your presence, prove that I am sent
from God.
If I do not
the works of my Father, then you are free to turn away. But, if
I do his works, even if you don't believe in me, believe in the
works that I do; that you may know and believe that the Father is
in me and I in him. I must do the work of him who sent me while
it is day: because the night is fast approaching when no one will
be able to work.
The lamp
of the body is the eye: if your eye is sound, your whole life will
be filled with light, but if your eye be preoccupied with evil,
your whole life will be obscured with darkness. If what illuminates
your life is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!
Are there not
at least twelve hours of daylight? If you walk by day you do not
stumble, because of the natural light around you. If, however, you
walk by night, you will fall, because there is no daylight to guide
you. Believe in the light that you may become "children of
the light." Be active while you have the light present with
you, for darkness is rapidly falling. Those that walk in darkness
are the lost, and if the blind are leading the blind, then both
are destined to fall.
You do not light
a candle and then conceal it beneath a vase, or place it under a
bed; instead, you set it on a candlestick, so that you or your guests
enter a house filled with light. Do you not realize that you are
called out to be lights in this world? Your life is similar to a
city built on a hill that cannot go unnoticed. Let your light, therefore,
shine brightly before all people, that they might see your good
works and praise your Father, who is in heaven.
That which you do in secret will eventually be revealed, and that
which seems to be hidden will one day be broadcast far and wide.
What I am telling you now in private, proclaim publicly, and what
you hear whispered by the Spirit, shout aloud from the housetops.