"And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:44-48)
To give you some context for this scripture, Paul (formerly Saul) and Barnabas were teaching in the city of Antioch. They had gathered many people from the city that wanted to hear the Gospel. When the Jews heard what they were teaching, they spoke against them. Paul and Barnabas said that they were suppose to teach them, so they would have the opportunity to either accept or reject Christ. Because they rejected Him, Paul and Barnabas turned to the Gentiles. The Gentiles rejoiced, and many joined the church that day.
Paul and Barnabas were missionaries, meant to be a light unto all the world, to bring the joyous news of the Gospel to all the corners of the earth. While on their journey, they encountered many trials, such as being thrown in jail, beaten, and even stoned and left for dead, all for what they believed in. I'm sure along the way, they were discouraged. I know I would've been.
But just think. If they turned around after their first failure, they would have lost so much. There would have been so many people who wouldn't have heard of the Gospel and baptized if Paul and Barnabas had just given up.
How often do we give up? How often do we let our flame of truth and testimony flicker in the wind at night? Just because there are trials, doesn't mean that we let our light go out. You don't know who needs it. And just think of the times that you needed someone else's light. What if they felt their shortcomings too great, or their testimony too weak, and they just let their flame go out? You wouldn't have been able to rely on their light and strength. So before you let your light go out, think of all those who need you, and keep it burning bright!
Because if you snuff that light, you can not be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. You won't be able to help spread the kingdom of God forward. I know I want to do my best to be involved in that work. Right now, I have been able to work a lot on family history. I have been able to help others find names to take to the temple, and I have taken a few myself. I know that our ancestors are always close by, helping guide us to find them, because we are their light, and they are ours. We are the ones who can help them to eternal life, and they help us as well.
So, raise up your light! Be a beacon to all the world! Help bring those whom are lost back home.
Come, all whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high.
Shall we, to men benighted,
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation! Oh, salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth's remotest nation
Has learned Messiah's name. (Hymn #268)
Love your favorite adventurer,
Bekah
