Power of Light Over Darkness
2024 Message
Some Christians appear to have been born in the land of slumber, and they continually live in their native country of dreams. They rub their eyes occasionally, and suppose themselves to be wide awake; but they are in the Enchanted Ground, and though they know it not, they are little better than sleepwalkers the most of their days.
I wonder whether there is anybody here, who needs, as it were, to be dragged out, and impressed into the service of Christ,—some brother, perhaps, from Liverpool, or Manchester, or Birmingham, or Glasgow, or from this great London itself,—someone who is “not slothful in business,” yet not “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Such a man may be, really, a fine fellow, with great capacity; but most of his talent is latent and dormant so far as the work of God is concerned. My dear friend, you have been sluggish quite long enough. Is it not time for me to cry to you, “Arise”; and is it not time for you to lift yourself up from that couch of indolence, and to say, “Yes, I have been hearing sermons for a good long while; I have been a member of a Christian church, and have been attending communions for many years; it is high time that I ceased from sloth, and began to do something to show that God is with me, and in me; and, by his grace, so it shall be”? Happy will the preacher be if that shall be the result of calling your attention to this first word of the text: “Arise.” We all need to hear the clarion call of Charles Wesley’s hymn,—
“Soldiers of Christ, arise,
And put your armour on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through his eternal Son.”
The text says, “Arise;” but then it goes on to say, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” In these words I see three things for me to do; first, to remind you of your privilege: “thy light is come;” secondly, to rouse you to your service: “Arise, shine;” and then, thirdly, to rally you to this work, by a few remarks which the context will suggest.
