Walk, Don't Sit, in the Light

Bill Brown ... Xiamen University
"O House of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord." Isaiah 2:5

"Don't just sit in the Light, Walk in it." (Bill B.)

"The world is a bridge. Pass over it but build no houses upon it." Muslim's "Thousand Sayings of Jesus."

Candlelit Bookstore When we first came to Xiamen China in 1988 there were almost no tall buildings, which was just as well because elevators would have never worked. Xiamen saved electricity by scheduling power outages at least one day a week, and two days in industrial areas like Huli. We bought candles by the case because we also had unexpected power outages several times a week, sometimes for hours at a time. I even carried candles shopping, because you never knew when you'd be caught in the dark in a windowless Chinese store. Several times I browsed the Foreign Languages Bookstore by candle light, and each time the Chinese marveled, "Wah! You carry candles!" Personally, I marveled that Chinese did not carry candles. If we expect to get much done, we need light--both without and within.

Why 'Jacob?' In this passage, Isaiah called Israel the "House of Jacob" because of what Meyer called their "duplicity and chicanery." Israel, God's chosen people, walked in darkness. Isaiah now called them to walk in the light.

'Walk, not sit, in the Light' In the late 16th century, in Agra (India), the emperor Akbar built the Gate of Victory (Buland Darwaza) in the Mughal capital of Fatenpur Sikri. Carved upon it is one of the Muslim's hundreds of Jesus' sayings: "The world is a bridge. Cross it but don't built your house upon it." In other words, life is a journey, not a way-station. Life is to explore and learn, not just to sit and wait. Jesus said "Thy will be done" (not talked about, but carried into action). There is a time, of course, for quiet meditation, and listening to that still, small voice within. Otherwise we've no idea where to walk, or when. But we are to walk in the Light, not just sit in it. Build no houses.'

'In the Light'. How do we know where to walk? Psalm 119:105 says "Your Word is a lamp unto my feet." We are led by our Father's Word, which we read. We are also led by our Father's Spirit, who reads us, and guides us.

The Bible speaks universal truths that apply to our specific needs, but the Spirit within us speaks specific truths appropriate for our immediate needs. As Christ said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you." The Light within us will illumine the path ahead of us, but it is up to us to walk in it.

In "Our Daily Homily" (London, 1894),F.B. Meyer wrote, "To what a walk we are called! ...
"This invitation is primarily addressed to the house of Jacob. Sometimes the elect people are spoken of as Israel; but when Jacob is used, they are reminded of the vein of duplicity and chicanery which lies embedded in their nature. Such people need specially to 'walk in the light of the Lord,' until the brooding darkness of their nature is dispelled. You will never succeed in ridding yourself of the self-life, with its jealousies and impurities, until you have learnt to walk in the light of the Lord. Nothing is so hostile to disease and corruption as light and air; believe me, the one way by which we can become sound and strong is to abide in Christ, that He may abide in us.

"WALK INVOLVES STEPS We cannot enjoy the presence of God as a whole unless it governs and illumines every step. We must be perpetually looking into our Father's face and asking where to place the next step. We must have fellowship with Him in all things; then we, who have been darkness, will be light in the Lord, and as we walk in the light we shall become children of light."

Reference: Khalidi's "The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature"

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