Object Lessons

Light for the Night

Objects: An electric light bulb, an extension cord, a long glass dish, such as is used for defrosting an electric refrigerator, a red cardboard cross, enough water to fill the glass dish, and a small amount of salt. (Cut one of the wires in the extension cord, about six inches from the socket. Bare both ends of the cut wire, and untwist them sufficiently to allow each to rest at opposite ends of the glass dish. Before the class begins, sprinkle enough salt into the glass dish to cause the light to burn dimly. Place the red cross at the end of the dish opposite the bulb.)

Notice how dimly this electric light burns! It is like a Christian. When one accepts Christ as a personal Saviour, a new light shines out of his life. It may not be very bright, even as this light shines dimly.

You will notice that the light burns more brightly as the bulb moves nearer to the cross. In life, the nearer we get to Christ, the brighter our light shines. It is God's will that we walk more closely to Christ day by day. In 2 Peter 3:18 we read, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

I will move the bulb away from the cross. The light grows dim.

As we look at this light bulb, we are reminded of the words in Proverbs 4:18, "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." If we Christians will be faithful to God in Bible study, prayer, and testimony, we will live closer to Christ, and will have the joy of knowing that our light is burning more brightly each successive day.