“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.”

(Psalm 119:105 KJV)

(1) EVERYONE has a PATH of their own. FATHER GOD has undoubtedly fashioned our hearts alike; that is, there are certain broad resemblances which every heart bears to every other heart. There are also equally well-known and accurately marked differences. Each and every person possesses the same elements, so to speak, but has them in different proportions. Contending as we may, our natural bias, our education, our position,…

(2) …the general and trivial events of our journey, do help to make our paths, which seem outwardly parallel, like two lines running side by side, yet as two lines still, separate and distinct. As you well know that there are many kinds of lamps, all of them having different uses and yet all of them intended to give light, but in very different places. Let us look at a few of them. There are beacon lamps. Out upon the coast, here and there, all along there…

(3) …are these lamps. They are lighted as soon as it grows dark. As the ship comes up the channel, these lights, all of them different, show the captain of the ship where he is, and he knows by their help how to steer the ship so as to get to port safely. God’s Word does all this. It shows men and women the true way, and keeps them from wreck and death. I have heard of those who put strange lights on the rocks, so as to mislead the sailors, and then the…

(4) …doomed ship has come ashore and been lost. Now there are spiritual wreckers, who want to have you and what you have acquired. These wreckers have false lights, the word, not of God, but of the Adamic Race. This morning I will show you two or three of these false lights? For example when a boy or girl does not wish to go in the ways of the church or its discipline. CHURCH, will become their wretched smear, “I would not be tied to…

(5) …my parents’ apron string!” But what does the ‘BEACON’ say? Why, see how it flashes “Forsake not the law of thy CHRISTIAN PARENT PARENTING.” Another of these false lights is, “It’s only once.” “Just this once, I won’t ask you any more.” Ah! you are in peril if you listen to this. Look to the beacon. “My PRECIOUS ONES, if a sinner entices you, DO not CONSENT!” There is yet another of these false lights I need to show you this morning.

(6) When you are hearing the preacher, and are beginning to think you had better be a Christian while young, those who DESTROY will show their false light, they will tell us we have “Plenty of time LEFT.” But what does FATHER GOD say? “I love them that love Me, and they that seek Me early shall find Me.” Does anyone here this morning know what a hurricane lamp is? There is a kind of lamp so made that you might carry it in the wildest of storms,…

(7) …and the strongest wind could not blow it out. Now, the Word of God is a hurricane lamp – it will not blow out. Oh! how Satan has tried in times of persecution; but you know when the Word of God gets into the HEART of a man or woman, there it sticks. You may, some of you, before you die, be persecuted for your WALK with the LORD. You may have to be smart for being lovers of God, but don’t be afraid. The Bible was made, like the…

(8) …hurricane lamp, to stand the storm. Not so with the schemes and plans of evil, they shall all be put out. The Bible is an invalid’s lamp. When people are ill, and have to lay awake all night in pain, they don’t want to be left in the dark; and yet, they don’t want any glaring light. They want a cheerful, yet soft light, and there are parts of the Bible just suited, such as “The Lord is my Shepherd.” “Let not your hearts be troubled.” “Came out of great tribulation.”

(9) Like the promise found in Revelation: “Then He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.’” (Revelation 21:6 NASB) The Bible is a signal lamp. You have noticed the signals at night, when you have been in your car. There they are, white, green, red. Do you know what white means? “Come on!” Yes, that is it; and the Bible…

(10) …says to those who are doing right, “Come on, you are on the right track; come on. All is well. Go ahead!” But what does the green light say? “Caution! Slowly! Beware!” Yes; when the driver sees that they know that it will be wise for them to slow down the truck, and look you know to be proactive. And so says the Word of God, when it sees that there is need for caution. When someone is wanting to get rich, there is some danger that they may be tempted…

(11) …to make money at the risk of their soul, then the lamp signals: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” “Those that will be rich fall into temptation.” But can you tell me what the red light means? “Stop!” “Danger!” “Shut off the steam!” Yes, all of these. Oh! how the Bible calls out to all of us. Therefore if people would mind the red light of Scripture we should have a great deal less of sin and sorrow. Let me close with what happens when night comes…

(12) …down in our city, crime goes forth to its worst achievements. Not only to show honest citizens where to walk, but to hinder the burglar, assassin, highway, and pickpocket, we must have artificial lights all over the city. I remember my history lessons in school when in Lawton one night the gasworks were out of order and the whole city sat in darkness. Between eleven o’clock at night and three o’clock in the morning, in the DARK…

(13) …YES in the dark and unlighted places of our city, crime had its holiday. If the lamplighter ceased doing their job, within weeks the town would rot. But there is a darkness beyond all power of gaslight. What is the use of a police-station, and almshouse, and watchman’s club, if there be no moral and religious influence to sanction the law, and to purify the executive, and to hang over legal enactment the fear of God and an enlightened public opinion.

(14) Therefore the first want of such a city is the street lamp of the Bible. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105 KJV) Therefore we really do have a PATH of our own. FATHER GOD has undoubtedly fashioned our hearts alike; that is, there are certain broad resemblances which every heart bears to every other heart. There are also equally well-known and accurately marked differences.

(15) Each and every person possesses the same elements, so to speak, but in different proportions. Contending as we may, our natural bias, our education, our position, would unroll new wreaths from the carpet; it would strike new music from the harp; it would throw new polish into the manners; it would kindle with light borrowed from the very throne of God all the refinements of society. Oh that the Christ who was born in a barn would come to our parlour!