The Glorious Gospel for All

Note the logic in the lesson's first verse. Since your light has come, it naturally follows that you should shine. Since the Lord's glory is risen upon you, what else can you do but arise? Also note that this is more than mere logic; this is responsibility and accountability! Those who are raised from the pit must become elevators. Those who receive light must become illuminators.

Now consider the lowly sponge. In its soak-only mode, it has very limited usefulness and capacity. When it "allows" itself to be used in the soak-and-squeeze mode, it enjoys magnified capacity and usefulness. The same is true of us in our relationship to Truth. The more we pass along, the more we can receive. If our churches have become stagnant in our spirituality, it may be due in part to an isolationist view of damned mankind.

Note the logic (and responsibility and accountability!) in the second verse. Here we are presented with a contrast. The earth and its people are smothered in darkness. However, the Lord will arise on you and manifest His glory on you! The Lord just seems to assume that a natural consequence of His work in you will be your passing on the light to the darkness around you!

My friend, the Lord is depending on you! May He? After all, loyalty is but His natural due. You are His servant, aren't you? Then you surely know that "it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).

The third verse makes it very clear that the spiritually needy are also depending on us. Depending on us to be faithful elevators. Depending on us to be faithful illuminators. Depending on us to be faithful soak- and-squeeze sponges. So open your eyes and look around you. See the needs and needy about you . . . and do something to redeem your steward- ship. "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?" (Proverbs 24:11,12).

The Lord is looking for individuals like you upon whom He can pour out His Spirit in abundance. The Lord wants to anoint you to carry on with the mission which He Himself launched on this planet. We have already seen three ways of describing your assignment in the King's service. In the verses from Isaiah 61 we find more job descriptions: preacher, binder, proclaimer, opener, giver, builder, raiser-upper, repairer. We have a lot to do, so let's not dally or be distracted! Society has already gone from bad to worse, dragging the professing church with it. I wonder what is to come. This, however, is not to be cause for discouragement, but determination! Don't forget that we are expressly told that the execution of our duties is to be among gross darkness in waste cities among the desolations of many generations. What we face in this generation is the accumulation of evil upon evil. We must not give up the battle, though. Neither should we satisfy ourselves with sitting tight and riding out the storm. This isn't the time to entrench ourselves while we build bunkers. This is the time to assault the gates of hell which shall not prevail against us. Arise! See! March!

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