---"Is
there something of which someone can say: Behold, this
is new? It has already been in the centuries that have
preceded us" (Ec. 1:10). We live in times of
worry, and with certainty we are living certain things
–good and bad– that have already been before
us.
---If
there is something that God treasures from the beginning
is the testimony. The testimony of his holiness, righteousness,
and truth. Christ is the testimony of God (1st John
5:11). Everything belonging to God, before anything,
begins with the testimony. The testimony of God is represented
with the light. We see this in the creation of the world
when God said: “Let there be light”,
and there was light. Even by using the expression “to
give light,” we are saying that that which was
conceived, became reality and came to light.
---The
testimony of the Lord’s presence, in the midst
of the people of Israel, was like a cloud during the
daytime and by night a light of fire (Psalms 78:14).
It was also the fire of the altar. Then, the light of
the world was revealed in flesh. Jesus is life, and
the life is the light of men.
---Here
we have to stop a little. Jesus teaching was not light
but life. The teaching by the word of God is like an
artificial light, a lamp, a candle or torch (2nd Peter
1:19); the inextinguishable light is Christ (2nd Co.
4:6).
---The
true light is revealed by the light of the Lord Jesus
in us. This light, now, is not individual, but cooperative:
“YE are the light of the world”. Now,
it is through the church that this light is revealed
(Re. 1:20)- the light of the testimony of God.
---Looking
at our reality, we have to ask ourselves: Do we have
the power of the testimony? I believe that we, the Christians,
are living full of truths, doctrines and knowledge,
but very little of the light. The truth is that we value
knowledge more that the testimony.
---We
say: 'It does not matter is we create one more group
or denomination; what is important is that the truth
is proclaimed'. Is “the truth” worth anything
if it does not have the testimony? The fruit of light
is revealed in benevolence, righteousness, and truth.
She is not initiated by the truth, but by benevolence,
then righteousness, and then truth.
---Truth
will only have value if it is testified by benevolence
and righteousness. The truth for a person can be something
theoretic, but not benevolence and righteousness. They
are light and fruit of the light.
---The
Lord does not want us to be proclaimers of the truth,
but light of the world, and salt of the earth, “...that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father
which is in heaven”.
---As
long as we do not place the testimony before the teaching
or the proclamation of the gospel, our efforts will
be in vain; they will not have power. If the candlestick
is not turned on, and the shewbread over the table,
the sacrifices done in the sanctuary will have no value.
These figures were the testimony of the Lord’s
presence there.
---Is
the presence of the Lord not important to us? Has his
truth found a place of testimony? May his loving-kindness
lead us to repentance (Ro. 2:4).
(Translation:
Betsy Calvo, USA).
