Taken from The Oil That Makes Glad by A. B. Saint
PART ONE
I think that most people have heard of Russell Conwell. His name has been passed down through the generations. He was an American who hailed from Massachusetts. His life was many faceted and from very early on it seems he was a born leader. Amongst other things, Russell Conwell was a good story-teller and through this medium he exhorted others to seek to do well in life, and taking his advice, many did just that. One of the stories he is famed for relaying is the one which he himself was told whilst travelling abroad in 1869. His Arab guide, famous for his lengthy narratives, commenced to tell him one which Conwell never forgot, and in time, he was to retell that same story thousands of times within the hearing of others. Before us is not the whole account, but a simple outline.
A man by the name of Ali Hafad enjoyed a good life. He, along with his wife and children, were the owners of a large farm. Ali worked the farm and tended its orchards and vineyard and lived a happy and contented life. This was until a visitor knocked on his door. Inviting the Buddhist monk inside and seating him by the fire, the monk began to relate a story of someone in another land who had discovered diamonds. The monk went on to say how that just a small handful of these precious stones could buy much in this life, even the whole world. Ali was very impressed, but the question was, where was he to go to find such diamonds?
The story has it that he sold his farm and left his wife and children with a neighbour, promising to come back to them a much richer man. As the years passed, he travelled to numerous lands throughout the globe, he quarried for diamonds, but sadly without success. In the end he became penniless, and eventually ended it all by walking right into the Mediterranean Sea and was never seen again. As time went on, the story tells that someone else purchased Ali’s farm, and one day taking his camel to the stream in the garden to allow it to take a drink, a beam of light must have shone in the morning sun, revealing something which sparkled in the water, it was a black stone. Retrieving it from its watery bed, the new owner took it into the house and for the purpose of admiring it, he placed it on the mantel.
The following day, this same Buddhist priest came by the farm, was invited in by its new owner and sitting down by the fire, the priest caught a glimpse of the sparkling black stone. Straight away he recognised it as a diamond, and he asked to be taken to the spot where it was found. The two men made their way down to the stream and bending low, they gently moved away the sand with their fingers, revealing more of the same precious black stones, hidden at the very bottom of the stream. It goes without saying, that in time, the new owner of the farm became a very rich man indeed.
Surely the lessons abound in this little story. Do not be covetous but learn to be content with what you already have. Remember too, that the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side, and if we are looking to be successful in this life, our success, our victories, our triumphs, can often be found on our own doorstep and within the confines of our own backyard.
There are countless treasure seekers in this world are there not? Men and women who have done their homework, possibly spending years in the planning, going forth armed with everything they will need for their particular quest. Amazing stories of people finding buried treasure can often reach our ears. Treasures, discovered in ancient shipwrecks beneath the sea, treasures, found in howling desert wastes, treasure sometimes surprisingly stumbled upon in the average cottage garden plot. More than once, I have even read of treasure being found in a graveyard.
In a sense I suppose I am a treasure seeker myself. Each day as I come before the Lord in prayer and with bible in hand, I say, “Open my eyes Lord that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law” (Psalm 119:18). What a precious Psalm this is, superabounding in shimmering spiritual truths just waiting to be unearthed. No wonder, through the years, this much valued Psalm has often been likened to a string of pearls; beautiful as a whole, yet each individual verse, each individual pearl, having its own worth. Each verse could very easily be expounded upon and used in daily devotions.
And what a long Psalm this is, the longest Psalm of all in fact, with 176 verses. It certainly would not have been written overnight! It is not only the longest Psalm in the Bible, but it is also the longest chapter in the whole of the Bible. I was once told that young Jewish students were taught to commit the whole of this Psalm to memory. Some prominent people of God have done the very same thing, two such people being William Wilberforce, who was involved in the abolition of the slave trade and the well-known Scottish pioneer missionary, David Livingstone.
Under the penmanship of its godly author, the Psalmist indicates that when reading the Bible, there is the necessity for God Himself, by His Spirit, to open the eyes of the heart. In other words, the eyes of our spiritual understanding, when reading His Word. It has been said that “Precious things are deeply hidden. Pebbles and stones and autumn leaves abound everywhere, but gold and silver are hidden deep in the bowels and rocky ribs of the earth; shells cover the sea- shore, but pearls are hidden in its depths. And so, with truth. Some truths may lie on the surface of the bible, but those that will altogether satisfy and distinguish us and make us wise unto salvation are found only after diligent search, even as for hidden treasure.” S L Brengle.
As a young person I was taught to value the Word of God above any other spiritual book. I was told, other books can be enjoyed, but the Bible must always be at the centre. “Let God speak to you first,” was always the prerequisite, “before you hear the voice of man.”
This morning I awoke with a verse of an old hymn on my mind. It was written by a lady called Clara H Scott. She has long since gone, but the hymn, as they say, lives on.
“Open my eyes, that I may see, glimpses of truth Thou hast for me, Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free, Silently, now I wait for Thee, Ready my God, Thy Will to see, Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine.”
How accurate this lady was in the writing of this sacred song. Through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, through His Anointing, we have in a sense, the Oil which will illuminate the Scriptures to us, for without this revelation of spiritual truths, we walk in the dark. What does Psalm 36:9 tell us? “In Thy light we shall see light.” In the story of Ali Hafed, our treasure seeker, it must be clearly understood that it could only have been the light of the sun’s rays resting upon the object buried beneath the water, which revealed that which was less than common place. As the light hit it, the sparkling jewel came to life and glistened in the water. A mere cobble stone or pebble would not demonstrate any such thing. There would be no flashes of light returning from them.
What a treasure house the Word of God is, there is much buried treasure hidden here, many things of worth waiting to be discovered. No wonder the Psalmist affectionately declared in verse 14, “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.” And again, further on in verse 162 he writes, “I rejoice at Thy Word, as one that finds great spoil.” Undoubtedly the Word of God, was as he suggested, “a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path” (Psalm 119:105).
I close with a verse from an old poem written by an Evangelical Christian.
I open it, my fingers trace the lines that Wesley’s, Moody’s, Spurgeon’s eyes have scanned,
Beneath my fingertips a promise shines, a diamond unearthed by my seeking hand,
A gem that countless saints have touched before and left among this jewel casket store.
I searched as one who searches long for gold, and oh what gleaming nuggets I unearthed.
All that my seeking heart and hands can hold I gather, and I know their precious worth,
And strange, the vein has never failed, though man has mined its channel since the world began.
The Holy Book, that gives its wealth unpriced to every seeker after God and Christ.
Prayer: Thank You Holy Spirit, that You bring light, clarity, understanding and guidance through the Holy Scriptures. Thank you Lord for the flashes of revelation of Your Word. Things which maybe we have never seen before, begin to come alive, and we see them for the very first time. Thank You Holy Spirit for the Oil of Your Anointing.
THE OIL OF ILLUMINATION – PART TWO
Somewhere in my keeping, I have several pictures of oil lamps used in ancient times, including an ancient foot lamp which was attached to the wearer’s leg. It had a little oil reservoir and little perforations that enabled the light to shine through, proving invaluable if its owner were going on a journey along paths which would be unlit. I ask you, where would we be in this world of ours without some form of light? The simple answer is, we would be in the dark. In the opening verses of the Creation Story, way back in Genesis chapter 1, are written these familiar, yet powerful words, “Let there be light!” These were the words which God Himself spoke, and I remember over those fleeting years, standing with the other children in the school assembly hall, when we would all sing that wonderful hymn of which I pen just one verse:
Thou whose Almighty Word, Chaos and Darkness heard and took their flight.
Hear us we humbly pray and where the Gospel Day sheds forth its glorious ray,
Let there be Light!
Also, the pages of the New Testament reveal how that the Lord Jesus made this striking announcement of Himself, when He said in John chapter 8 and verse 12, “I am the Light of this world, he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” We who know the Lord love to walk in His Light. To walk with His Protection over us, to walk in His Plans and Purposes for our lives, to know His Peace in a less than peaceful world. To have the light of the knowledge of the understanding of the Gospel of Grace, to be satisfied with His Goodness and rejoice in His Guidance. Sad to say there have always been those who are repelled by the Light which shines. The Bible says they love to walk in darkness because their deeds are evil, therefore it is in this Heavenly Light that they stand reproved.
I reminded myself the other day of the background into which our Lord referred to Himself as the Light of the World. I recalled He was with the Jewish Authorities in the Temple Treasury which was situated in the Court of the Women. It was the second of the Temple Courts, the first one being the Court of the Gentiles. In this particular Court, 13 treasure chests, which they called The Trumpets, were set against the wall. Into these receptacles were placed offerings for various Temple requirements, plus voluntary offerings. It must have been a place of much activity, as people milled around about with the very purpose of giving, in mind.
It was on a special occasion, in this very place that the words of the Lord rang out. In the previous chapter, John chapter 7, we read of one of the Feasts of the Jews called the Feast of Tabernacles. Sometime during this particular Feast, was a Ceremony called ‘The Illumination of the Temple,’ many spectators would be there. In its centre were four very big candelabra. These were lit, and it is generally thought that the blaze of light from these four lit up the whole of Jerusalem. Every courtyard, every street and every dwelling place was filled with light. The darkness around about was suddenly lit up. What a great opportunity for our Lord to declare that He was the Light of the World, not just for a season, not just for a limited time, as was the light which shone from the Candelabra, but for all time. The light from the Candelabra would eventually go out, but not so the Light of Christ.
The Lord Jesus refers to His Light as being the Life of men. In John chapter 1 and verse 4 we read, “In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” Which men we might ask? Those who follow Him would be the answer. It is in the following, that walk of constancy, that seeking after God with the whole of our heart, that life of obedience, that life of discipleship. Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 8 exhorts us that we who are now “light in the Lord, must walk as children of light.” What does Matthew 5 verses 14-16 tell us?
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
It was said that Moody, the great American evangelist on one occasion illustrated this truth to his hearers. He said, “Away out in the prairie regions, when meetings are held at night in the log schoolhouse, the announcement of the meeting is given out this way: “A meeting will be held by early candlelight.” The first man who comes brings a tallow dip with him. It does not light the building much, but it is better than none at all. The next man brings his candle, and the next family bring their candles and by the time the house is full, there is plenty of light. So, if we all shine a little, there will be a good deal of light. If we cannot all be lighthouses, any one of us can at any rate be a tallow candle.”
How true it has been intimated that all the darkness in the world cannot put out the light of one small candle and yet one small candle can lighten all the darkness which is around it. Even though we may think our lives may not be of the most heroic kind, but rather of the more common place, we have been set as lights to those around us.
In his book, “World Changers,” Dr Herbert Lockyer gives a full chapter over to David Livingstone. “A man,” he says who, “lighted a dark Continent.” He went on to say, that after visiting Cambridge to address the university students, Livingstone received a most encouraging letter from one of the tutors which read, “That Cambridge visit of yours lighted a candle which will never, never go out.” Such a sentiment is true of the renowned missionary’s work in Africa. His light continued to shine until extinguished by his lonely death, and the influence of his wonderful labours continues.
And so, it must be with us, any good things which issue from our own lives, must be seen to be of God and He alone must have the Glory. This light, this illumination which proceeds from God Himself, is not that we glory in it but that He may be glorified.
Hold high the Torch! You did not light its glow, T’was given you by other hands you know,
Tis yours in Christ to keep it burning bright, yours to pass on when you no more need light.
For there are other feet that we must guide, and other forms go marching by our side,
Their eyes are watching every smile and tear, and efforts we think surely not worthwhile
Are sometimes just the help’s they need; Actions to which their souls would give most heed,
So that in turn they will hold it tight and say, “I watched someone else carry it this way.”
Hold hight the Torch! You did not light its glow, T’was given you by other hands you know,
I think it started down its pathway bright the day the Maker said, “Let there be light!”
And One said, who hung on Calvary’s Tree, “You are the light of the world – Go shine for Me.”
Author Unknown
Prayer: Lord, light up and illuminate the lamp of my life for Your Glory!
LIFE ON THE ALTAR 