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Introduction
How many times in your life have you felt lost? Most certainly I can remember a few times. Like when I was 3 years old one of my family members took me for a walk to visit an empty dormitory. Somehow I wondered off and found myself in a hallway with no one answering my calls for help. As I walked down the hallway I saw the elevator and went into it. I remember visiting different floors but I still could not find anyone to help me. As I arrived at another floor the elevator door opened only to reveal another dark and empty hallway.
In our lives as young or as old as they may be, the enemy of God seeks to keep us in darkness that we will continue looking here and looking there for Christ Jesus. Do you know what I mean? It is the constant desire to find that something new, exciting or different to fill a void within. And what is that void? It is the covering of light which we lost.
"The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents .... A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering." Christ's Object Lessons, 310.4
As you can read, the method of replacing the void began all the way back in Eden. The loss of the robe of light is really a genetic deformity which we often work to conceal or hide in some way. Did you ever notice how many times Satan tempts us to evaluate our church family, the inner circle of family members, and personal friends for all their inadequacies? Once he gains our attention he works to guide our thoughts to have reasonable doubt that God's truth is not working. The enemy of God is a skilful worker to draw your eyes and thoughts off the Savior. After all, it is his desire to introduce a bit of error, just enough so that it does not seem so wrong to you.
When we attend church, learn about the Savior at home and dedicate our lives to Him we want to see and fellowship with others who desire to be His too. But what happens when we do not see the fruits of the Spirit resting on God's chosen people? Unfortunately the Lord sadly states that many will come in His name and profess to be His and are not. But we should not let this detour us, no matter how terrible the ratio of wheat to tares we may or may not see. So what will we do? We must have the attitude of pressing forward to be a searcher for truth! We must be willing to walk in a world of darkness where He is our only Light. We must work to be the vessels in which His precious rays of light stream in and through us so that the world will meet Christ Jesus as we know Him.
It is our desire that Light Searchers will continue its work to encourage the reformation within. May the Lord guide and bless us as we prayerfully seek to have the extra oil for the journey ahead of us. Amen.
Attitude of Searchers for Truth
Be guarded, and search the Scriptures with all reverence; for they contain wonderful truth. Through the truth you are to be renewed, reshaped in character, that you may bear the imprint of the divine. There is light, precious light, for all whose hearts are softened and subdued by the Spirit of God. They will receive joyfully the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Whatever God has written is for the instruction of all. That which he saw essential to inspire holy men to write, is for your edification. Only practise the words of truth, and you are safe; you will be God's light-bearers to the world. Study the word of God, critically and prayerfully, that you may understand the great vital truths concerning the salvation of the soul. Self-confidence and self-assumption will never prove a saving power to you. In humility, diligently seeking the grace of God, dig deep, know what is truth, and that your foundation is sure. The truth must be kept before the people; and you need constantly to realize your dependence upon God.
Let not one man feel that his gift alone is sufficient for the work of God; that he alone can carry through a series of meetings, and give perfection to the work. His methods may be good, and yet varied gifts are essential; one man's mind is not to mold and fashion the work according to his special ideas. In order for the work to be built up strong and symmetrical, there is need of varied gifts and different agencies, all under the Lord's direction; he will instruct the workers according to their several ability. Co-operation and unity are essential to a harmonious whole, each laborer doing his God-given work, filling his appropriate position, and supplying the deficiency of another. One worker left to labor alone is in danger of thinking that his talent is sufficient to make a complete whole. Where there is a union of workers, there is opportunity for them to consult together, to pray together, to co-operate in labor. None should feel that they cannot link up with their brethren because they do not work in exactly the same line as they themselves do. Those who entertain such thoughts, show that they need the converting power of God upon their own hearts and characters, that their peculiarities may not become a hindrance to the work for the salvation of their fellow men." Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers, 14:1-2.
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