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The parable of the sower shows that it is those by the wayside who do not understand
the Word that are robbed of the Seed of life by Satan. Paul in that wonderful letter to the
Ephesians warns them of this dangerous foe:
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand against the wiles
of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places . . . . . And take . . . . . the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God"
(Eph. 6: 11, 12, 17).
Our digression on this subject is to emphasize that Satan appears to be working
through those under his control to accelerate the decline in human standards and the
encouragement of every perversion and departure from perfect family relationships and
responsibilities that God laid down in the beginning. God's ways, His love and Truth all
have a common aim, that of eventual unity between His children and then Himself.
Every thought and action not contributing to this divine aim, find affinity with those who
took up stones against the Lord Jesus Christ.
No.9.
Chapter 9:
pp. 75 - 80
Key words of this chapter (9:) could well be:
"I am the Light of the world" (9: 5).
This is an echo of John 1: 9:
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
Sight depends on light to illumine the object to be seen. Spiritual sight depends on the
Light of the world. Verse 5 is prefaced by "as long as I am in the world". We today have
the privilege of `shining as lights in the world' (Phil. 2: 15) and so continuing in our
smaller measure the wonderful light that the Saviour brought into a world of darkness.
Spiritual sight is the fruit of the believer's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Before we have
faith or belief there must be knowledge:
"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10: 17).
Hardness of heart about which we read so much consists of man's resistance to this
Word of God, his refusal to humbly accept it and his ready forgetfulness of its message.
In all ages man has sought his own prestige by attempting to secure his salvation by his
own efforts and by the glory of his own mental and physical accomplishments. God's
way for fulness of life by reclamation and the salvation of man is the one and only way--
the way the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished to the full on our behalf for His Father. This
way is just and righteous and when man understands and accepts it in faith it will be