August 6th

August 6th

Read: John 8:2-9; John 3:18-21; Psalm 90:88; John 1:1-9

There is a cave in New York State called Howe’s Caverns. There are guided tours through it several times daily. During the tour there is a boat ride on an underground river. Once everyone is settled in the boat, the guides turn off all the lights and the tourists are instructed to hold their hands in front of their faces and look at them. Of course, they can’t be seen because there is a complete absence of light, total darkness some 100 feet below the surface above.

Being there was an experience I shall never forget. There was an oppressiveness to the almost palpable blackness. Suddenly a guide turned on his small flashlight, and I heard several people release the breath which they had been holding. Just that little light dispelled the darkness.

Until the Light of the World turns His searchlight into a sinner’s heart, the darkness is just as total as in that cave. The sinner is unable to penetrate the blackness there by any means. Most times he has no idea that he really is in darkness, in sin. How we must praise God for the Light of the World which reaches into black hearts.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Men hide their secret sins away
Down deep from public view
In darkest closets of the soul
Where they but seethe and brew
Unhappiness and discontent
In every shadowed nook,
Far from reach of earthly light
Where dim-eyed Self won’t look.

The Light of Jesus as He waits
For men to come to Him
Sheds brilliance over all the earth,
To every corner dim,
Illuminating sin-dark hearts
Wherever they may be,
If only they will open wide
To Him so Self can see.

Prayer: Oh God, fill me with Your light so that there may be no dark corners in my heart.