The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1919, Page 82

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

“Let Your Light Shine.’’
(For Luther’s Birthday, November 10.)

Lutheran Christians have the true light of the
Gospel. They have the sweet assurance of their
eternal salvation. They also have the correct under-
standing of God’s Word. John the Baptist was a
burning and shining light in his capacity as the
Lord’s forerunner, for he directed the people’s at-
tention to the true Light of the world, the Messiah.
Pointing to Him in whom all generations of the
earth are blessed, he exclaimed: “Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!”
The truth contained in these words is an ever-flow-
ing fountain of delight for us, which makes our
hearts truly contented and grateful even here on
earth. This message fills us with spiritual warmth,
and creates in us the sincere and constant desire
to serve God from whom all blessings flow. It im-
parts to us the necessary strength to perform the
labors allotted to us in Christ’s vineyard. It causes
us to suffer patiently all pain which falls to our lot.
It enables us to look into the future confidently,
and even to look grim death in the face fearlessly.
The precious Word of the eross causes us to with-
stand all temptations, and wage all our battles with
an undaunted spirit. Luther relates: “Once upon
a time the devil said to me, ‘Martin Luther, you
are a great sinner, and you will be damned! ‘Stop!
Stop! said I; ‘one thing at a time; I am a great
sinner, it is true, though you have no right to tell
me so. I confess it. What next? ‘Therefore you
will be damned.’ ‘That is not good reasoning. It is
true that I am a great sinner, but it is written,
“Jesus Christ came to save sinners” ; therefore J shall
be saved! Now go your way.’ So I cut the devil
off with his own sword, and he went away mourning

because he could not cast me down by calling me
a sinner.”

When the great Reformer was born, the darkness
of popery enveloped and depressed the minds and
hearts of Christ’s members. Hence our Lord and
Master raised up this chosen vessel, who as St. Paul’s
faithful spiritual follower again emphasized justifi-
cation by faith, without the deeds of the Law, thus
pointing out to Christians the only way of salvation.
In this way the prophetic words of Isaiah were ful-
filled once more by God’s guidance: “The people
that walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
Luther let his light shine before men, millions of
whom, seeing his good works, glorified our Father in
heaven. He opened the people’s eyes, relieved and
liberated their burdened and deluded consciences,

and gladdened their hearts with the precious Gospel
he proclaimed, through which God’s Holy Spirit
wrought faith within them and the hope of ever-
lasting life, which enabled them to bring forth the
fruits of love. He again taught Bible-doctrines and
confuted the papal heresies and abuses. He trans-
lated the Bible, published his commentaries, sermon
books, controversial writings, and catechisms, and
composed his wonderfully strengthening hymns.
He urged the council members of German -etties
to establish and maintain Christian schools. He
insisted that both ministers and lay-members should
receive, respectively, adequate religious education.
Other features of his activity or example could be
mentioned. He also confessed Christ by his godly
life. Let us thank God for the Reformer whom
He gave to the Church.

But in order that we as true Lutherans may
remain children of light, let us regularly hear and
read God’s Word and orthodox literature, and use
the Sacrament. Full of joy over the light that is
ours, let us use it for the edification of our own
immortal souls, but also for the salvation of others.
Let us ever realize the great fact that all church-
work that we perform, of whatever kind it may be,
all earnest prayers that we offer for the extension
of God’s kingdom, and all gifts that we devote to-
ward the propagation of the Gospel, are different
ways of letting our light shine. Thus we contribute
our humble share toward the good work of causing
the darkness to disappear more and more from this
sin-stricken world and of increasing the light, with
the assistance of the Holy Ghost. If we realize this
solemn fact and duly consider it, we shall enthusi-
astically work while the short day of our life lasts,
laboring for the glory of God and the spiritual
welfare of our fellow-men. Christ commands that
we let our light shine, and our consciences also
demand it. How cruel it would be to withhold
help from those whose souls are perisning while we
have the means to help them! Every day we have
a field of opportunity on all sides. Our hearts long
and yearn to take part in this holy occupation of
building Christ’s temple on earth. We cannot do it
by our own power, but the Dayspring from on high
grants us His strength and Spirit, and will finally
usher in the time when the night of sin shall have
vanished entirely and the blissful day of eternity

will be ours.
Time is indeed a precious boon,
But with the boon a task is given;
The heart must learn its duty well
To man on earth and God in heaven. (H.Cook.)
#H. Osternus,

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