SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 336, 3 September 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

SERIOUS THOUGHTS.

TIME AND LIGHT. Charls KtNGSLEY siid : I have boundless faith in time and light. 1 shall see what is the truth some day and if I do not someone else will which is far more important. Time and Light! what two more important creations could we name, both coming to birth at the same period, on the first Buy (Gen. 1. I—s) How much do we need faith in time. At our beat how impatient we are ! We, who try to do some good in the world—to help our fellows, are wo not impatient of delayed results; do we not wish to rußh at our work ana feel disappointment at apparent failure? Sec how the Almighty God worKs ; first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Gradual but never ceasing is His work—who can by watching see nature's growth and who can hurry it? How to combine patience with energy seems to be one of life's riddles, only to be solved by " looking unto Jesus." He " the express image of His Father " who worked as He did, saw apparently meagre success as the result of His life's work. After He was "crucified, dead and buried" the world thought " there's an end of Him " but the good seed was sown and time only was needed to yield an abundant harvest. What faith Jesus must have had in time during those thirty years of quiet life in Nazareth, working for His daily bread. Time is a blessed healer to {broken hearts and in all troubles we need boundless faith in it as a means of consolation. What grief is too great, if only wo do not resist its blessed influence, for time to soften and lighten. With time we get accustomed to most things ; changes of position and circumstances and looking back we can see what time has done for us in developing our characters and bing off rough corners. Thus may we gain encouragement for the future. '' Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they griug exceeding 6inall; Though with patience He stands waiting with exactness grinds He all." If he can afford to take time over us, who are we to be impatient with ourselves or our fellows ? Jesus s»id : I am the Light of the world ; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." There is light for all in plenty but through our weakness we can but see some straggling rays. Let up lighten oar darkness 0 Lord. Do not let us have any sentimental feeling, any pet dogma that we would unwilling to renounce did a couching ray of light show us it were untrue and false. Let us be willing to sacrifioe anything and everything to increased light, Sometimes in mo3t unexpected and unwelcome ways do our faults become known to us, our conduct shown up in a new light, our path become clear. It is hard often to accept these disclosures as sent from the " Father of Light" but nevertheless if we are asking for guidance they must be in answer to our prayers. " Whatsoever doth make manifest is light." Faith iu lijjht ! We may be but as " An infant crying in the dark And with no language but a cry " Yet the light is there though we cannot see it and the nearer we get to the Eternal goodness, the more light shall wo have. " Iu thy light shall we see light." In trouble, doubt ur perplexity may we ever believe that " the darkness is passing away and the true light already shineth." Thin was John's message " God is light" to reveal the inward thoughts, to dispel the powers of darkness, to unfold the mysteries of life, to guide and cheer. George Elliot expresses through one of her heroines this belief, that by desiring what is perfectly good, even when we don't quite know what it is and cannot do what we would, we are part of the divine power against evil—widening the skirts of life and making the struggle with darkness narrower. And: again Go home and carry out what youknow already of the Divine. For you that is the only way to further light. What light we have we must use and not hide, living fully up to it and letting it shine for others. More will be given as we are able to bear it. Someday we shall know the truth, though perhaps not in this life. Even though we fail here we may help on another's success. How this gives a death blow to all selfish, egotistical feeling. We are iu God's ha.t.ds to be used as pleases Him best only anxious that " His Kingdom come His will be doSie." (F).