THE Scriptures make it very plain to men that the way of transgressors is hard. They hold up to our view the terrible harvest reaped by the thoughtless sower. And even in those cases where the fond delusion is harboured that all will end well because of the temporary pleasure the sinner enjoys they warn him that the reaping time may be in desperate sorrow. On the other hand, the Word of God is full of the most comforting messages to those who have been called by God’s Spirit to walk in the way of life. He has set before them a path which will one day bring them into His own presence where there is fulness of joy and to His right hand where there are pleasures for evermore. He has promised to instruct them and teach them in the way they should go, and that He will guide them with His eye. Some of the most gracious encouragements in the Scripture are those referring to the path of the just. Take for instance the words:—”The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” The heavenly beauty of these words is itself like a light shining in a dark world or a beckoning message to the wayfarer, who may be wearied and discouraged, to lift his eyes to the distant goal that he may catch a glimpse of the light of God’s perfect day. The prospect set before the just in these beautiful words is not imaginary but is in strict accordance with fact. The just have such a glorious prospect before them that it well becomes us to ask:—Who are they? Men and women who have been freely justified by grace is the answer of God’s Word. Guilty sinners, condemned by God’s holy law, incapable of meeting its far-reaching demands or its terrible penalty, they were helpless and
hopeless as far as their own efforts were concerned. It was while in such a state the Spirit of God turned their eyes to the Surety of sinners, and as they were enabled to believe in Him they became partakers of the righteousness of God by faith, and from that day onward they were God’s justified, and it is of this people that the promise holds true that the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. God has set before them a definite path with a definite goal, and as wayfarers with their eye fixed on the distant goal they are to press on towards the mark.
There was a time when those who are spoken of as “just” were not “just” and when they were walking in a path that was not as the shining light but which was taking them all too surely to that eternal night described so solemnly by the Lord Jesus as the outer darkness. But through the Prophet of the Highest knowledge of salvation and remission of their sins were granted to them, and by the tender mercy of their God the dayspring from on high visited them, giving light to them who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guiding their feet into the way of peace. This was the beginning of a course that is to end in perfect day. The Lord’s people are ready to misconstrue this promise, and thus deprive themselves of the comfort it is fitted to give. It does not say that they will feel it getting brighter and brighter as they journey towards Zion; it states a fact; a fact, too, which is abundantly borne out by their experience. For it is the increasing brightness of the light which is bringing out so distinctly the imperfections that trouble the pilgrims. They see the imperfections more now than ever, and the conclusion they draw is that they are worse now than at the beginning without ever thinking that it may be the increasing light that is the true explanation. The promise does not mean that they will feel the way getting brighter and brighter. It may be, as far as their feelings are concerned, that it is getting darker and darker, but nevertheless the fact of the promise holds true for the just. The long night for them is passing away, and in hope they can look forward to the coming of the perfect day—God’s perfect day—a day which shall have no night. What that day shall be for those who felt themselves stumbling through life in the dark no tongue can tell, but no watchman straining his eyes to catch the first light of the dawning day could have the joy that will be felt by the just when they open their eyes in the light of God’s perfect day.