Let us notice, secondly, in these verses, what the Lord Jesus says of those that folloio Him. He promises, "He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
To follow Christ is to commit ourselves wholly and entirely to Him as our only leader and Saviour, and to submit ourselves to Him in every matter, both of doctrine and practice. " Following" is only another word for " be- lieving." It is the same act of soul, only seen from a differ- ent point of view. As Israel followed the pillar of cloud and fire in all their journeyings — moving whenever it moved, stopping whenever it tarried, asking no questions, marching on in faith — so must a man deal with Christ. He must u follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." (Rev. xiv. 4.)
He that so follows Christ shall " not walk in darkness." He shall not be left in ignorance, like the many around him. He shall not grope in doubt and uncertainty, but shall see the way to heaven, and know where he is going. — He " shall have the light of life." He shall feel within him the light of God's countenance shining on him. He shall find in his conscience and understanding a living light, which nothing can altogether quench. The lights with which many please themselves shall go out in the valley of the shadow of death, and prove worse than useless. But the light that Christ gives to every one that follows Him shall never fail.
Let us notice, lastly, in these verses, what the Lord Jesus says of His enemies. He tells the Pharisees that, with all their pretended wisdom, they were ignorant of God. "Ye neither know Me nor my Father : if ye had known Me, ye should have known my Father also."
Ignorance like this . is only too common. There are thousands who are conversant with many branches of human learning, and can even argue and reason about religion, and
joiin, ciiAr. vnr. 77
yet know nothing really about God. That there is such a Being as God they fully admit. But His character and attributes revealed in Scripture, His holiness, His purity, His justice, His perfect knowledge, His unchangeableness, are things with which they are little acquainted. In fact, the subject of God's nature and character makes them un- comfortable, and they do not like to dwell upon it.
The grand secret of knowing God is to draw near to Him through Jesus Christ. Approached from this side, there is nothing that need make us afraid. Viewed from this stand- point, God is the sinner's friend. God, out of Christ, may well fill us with alarm. How shall we dare to look at so high and holy a Being? — God in Christ is full of mercy, grace, and peace. His law's demands are satisfied. His holiness need not make us afraid. Christ in one word is the way and door, by which we must ever draw nigh to the Father. If we know Christ, we shall know the Father. It is His own word, — " No man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John xiv. 6.) Ignorance of Christ is the root of ignorance of God. "Wrong at the starting-point, the whole sum of a man's religion is full of error.
And now, where are we ourselves? Do we know? Many are living and dying in a kind of fog. — Where are we going? Can we give a satisfactory answer? Hundreds go out of existence in utter uncertainty. — Let us leave nothing uncertain that concerns our everlasting salvation. Christ, the light of the world, is for us as well as for others, if we humbly follow Him, cast our souls on Him, and be- come His disciples. — Let us not, like thousands, waste our lives in doubting, and arguing, and reasoning, but simply follow. The child that says — "I will not learn anything till I know something," will never learn at all. The man that says — " I must first understand everything before I become a Christian," will die in his sins. Let us begin by " following," and then we shall find light.