Editorial April 18, 1914 Issue

Light

Annie M. Knott

It is deeply interesting to note the many references to light which are to be found in the Scriptures, the word being constantly used therein to express the presence of Deity. We are told that when Egypt was in deepest darkness there was light in the dwellings of the Hebrews, and this light, this symbol of the divine presence, was with them in their desert journeyings as "a pillar of fire by night." Many times does the psalmist make use of this figure, as in the forty-third psalm, where a sorrowful plaint of deceit and injustice breaks out into an appeal for the infinite help: "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me"! This is followed by a vision of "exceeding joy," and the question, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" Why indeed should any one be cast down when God is declared to be "the health of [man's] countenance"?

This subject is wonderfully presented by Mrs. Eddy when she says (Science and Health, p. 191): "As a material, theoretical life-basis is found to be a misapprehension of existence, the spiritual and divine Principle of man dawns upon human thought, and leads it to 'where the young child was,'—even to the birth of a new-old idea, to the spiritual sense of being and of what Life includes. Thus the whole earth will be transformed by Truth on its pinions of light, clearing away the darkness of error." When the aged Simeon took up in his arms the child Jesus and beheld with spiritual vision the glory of Truth's ministry which was to unfold with his advancing years, he spoke of it as "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." That he spoke by divine inspiration is supported by the fact that Christ Jesus did not hesitate to say, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." That this light was universal and not limited to any personality is shown by his statement respecting John the Baptist: "He was a burning and a shining light;" in other words, John was a transparency for the light of Truth and Love, and gave out all that he could understand of Truth's purifying and uplifting power.

Again and again in the religious history of the olden time and of our own day, has this light pierced the darkness and revealed, even if but for a moment, the things of God's kingdom. On a lonely mountain height, when the light of day had departed, Peter, James, and John saw their Master transfigured, his face shining with the radiance of Spirit. They also saw, through the transparency of his divinely pure consciousness, Moses and Elias, who lived to God, though material sense declared them dead. That this light was always present to Christ Jesus, explains his healing of the lunatic boy when they descended from the mountain, and it was the same light which burst upon Saul of Tarsus on that momentous journey to Damascus. Well might he say later, "Let us put on the armor of light." Again it came to Peter when he was in prison awaiting execution, the divine idea loosing his chains and guiding him anew to freedom. The woman in the parable who had lost her piece of money lighted a candle, and though it was only a tiny gleam it met her need; but the great need ever is "more light."

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