Luke chapter 11 and verse 33. No man, says the Lord Jesus, no man when he hath lighted a candle putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye, Therefore, when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light. But when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed, therefore, that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body thereof be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. Amen. May the Lord bless to us this reading from his word. The Lord Jesus used this illustration of a lighted candle, this metaphor of a lighted candle, on several occasions. So Matthew, Mark, Luke, a couple of times speak about the Lord employing, using this illustration of a lighted candle in his ministry. And the purpose seems to be twofold. First, to emphasise the great value of the Gospel and the high esteem in which we ought to hold it, and second, to encourage his disciples and his followers, that's you and me, to be open and honest and transparent about our faith in Christ and about our confidence in the Gospel. Let me summarise that and say this. The first reason why the Lord used this illustration about the candle was to show us the importance of the gospel. And the second reason is to remind us to appreciate it. The New Testament knows nothing of secrecy. in the matters of gospel doctrine and gospel truth. There's no secret society in the church. There's no secret initiation into the church. There's no hidden truth. There's no veiled mysteries in the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the high priest at Christ's trial, inquired about Jesus' doctrine. We read in John 18 20 that Jesus effectively said to him, you know it, I made no secret of it, this thing was not done in a corner. Jesus' words were these, I speak openly to the world, I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I said nothing? And this is a very important point. When a man preaches, it is his heaven-imposed duty to preach and to declare the whole counsel of God and to hold nothing back that is helpful and beneficial to the Lord's people. And I get frustrated when I hear people say there are deeper truths only to be preached to mature Christians. or there are matters of the faith that cannot be taught to young believers. And often the teachings that they mean are the doctrines of grace, which is the very heart of the gospel. You can't preach the gospel without preaching grace. And though the Bible's teaching on God's eternal decrees or his everlasting love, it's as if they're saying that these teachings, God's eternal decrees, his everlasting love, his discriminating grace or election or reprobation or predestination or limited atonement, particular redemption, it's as though they're saying these doctrines are too potent, they're too dangerous, or they're too complicated for some Christians to receive. And I disagree with that. And sure it is, there are deep and challenging truths in scripture, but a preacher's job is to labour to make the complex plain and the profound accessible. Paul tells Timothy, 2nd Timothy chapter 2. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Now that was Paul's admonition to Timothy. That was the old pastor's direction, his advice to the young preacher. Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, That's true as far as the church is concerned, obviously, but it is also true for unbelievers. It is not our place as preachers to sort or filter the gospel message, to get people through the door, as it were, after which we then sometime in the future can explain the deeper truths somewhere down the line. And again, I fear that those deeper truths, so-called, will never actually be taught. And I suspect that the real reason is not that they're complicated, but that they're unpalatable to the preacher, and not believed by him, and he would rather leave them aside altogether. It is the role of the church on earth to convey all that the Lord has revealed of himself and to preach what Christ preached, to preach what Paul preached and the apostles preached. And if a man can't do that or won't do that, he's in the wrong job. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a lighted candle that Christ himself lit. And the church must place that candle on a candlestick, nor under a bed, nor under a bushel. A bushel was a measure, a measure of agricultural material. So it's like a tub full. But you can't put that candle under a tub. You can't put it under a barrel. The role of its church, the role of its preachers in this world isn't to entertain, isn't to socialise, isn't to befriend the world or accommodate this evil world, but to declare the whole gospel and to lift up the Lord Jesus Christ. And there's an interesting little phrase here in the passage. It says, that they which come in may see the light. That's the job of the preacher, to preach the gospel in such a way that they which come in may see the light, that they which come in may see the true light of whom the gospel speaks, the true Christ in whom we believe and who is worthy of their belief. the one true God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, the God before whom all men and women must one day stand, either in peace or in judgment. Jesus says, the light of the body is the eye. As if to say, the light of our soul is our understanding. If light is to enter the soul, it must come by a proper understanding of the gospel. If a person's eye is single, if his eyesight is perfect and unimpaired, then he is able to function fully and properly in fulfilling his daily activities. Similarly, the parallel is, if the eye of our understanding is unhindered and unrestricted, then the blessings of the gospel, faithfully preached and spiritually applied, becomes to our souls the joy of the Lord, the comfort of grace, the hope of everlasting life. And the gospel then is able to be enjoyed to its full as the Lord intended. And I think we know this. I think you and I know this. You're not comforted as a believer because a preacher says to you, don't worry, everything will be fine in the end. Or if he says to you, well, you're just going to have to try harder. And if you do, you'll make it in the end. We are comforted because our preachers tell us Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. That's what comforts our souls. And actually that verse from Paul, it's 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses two to four. These verses to the Corinthians from Paul is very like the Lord's own take heed message here in these verses that we've read. Paul tells the Corinthians, keep in memory what I preached unto you. Keep in memory what I preached unto you. Take heed. unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. That's the message that comforts a poor soul. Or perhaps this message, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Or this message, but now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. These are the messages that comfort the soul. These are the messages that give us the joy of the Lord. These are the messages that bless our heart. This shining light, this candle in its pure form is to be shone in the world. Or maybe this verse, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. These are the words of eternal life. This is the message of joy and peace. When Christ is lifted up, when the gospel is preached, when it's received in faith, when it's applied by God the Holy Spirit to the hearts of God's people, it brings with it joy the world cannot know, confidence in God's effectual grace, because it is founded on the merits of our great Redeemer. So when the Lord says, take heed therefore, that the light which is in thee be not darkness, he's telling us to be careful to keep the gospel clear and pure and undiluted and unadulterated by the lies of the devil and the foolishness of man-made religion. And this is not to say that a believer, once enlightened by grace, can lose his salvation. We don't believe that. But it is telling us to be careful and alert not to lose what we've been given or take for granted the precious gospel of grace. Value it. You think you'll always have access to this gospel? Well, I hope so. You think you'll always find it more valuable than the attractions which this world uses to dazzle people? I hope so. Yet there are many who have heard and seemingly received the truth who afterwards grow cold who become distracted and diverted by the affairs of life and the troubles and the busyness of life. And the devil is subtle. And if the Lord tells us to take heed, we ought to take heed. Christ's warnings are not for nothing. Be jealous for the true gospel and don't sell it for the world's gold. Now it's true that there is no perfect knowledge in any of us. And I hope that we all feel as though we are always learning and ever growing in grace and the knowledge of the truth. Yet I hope too, that having found the pearl of great price, we're willing to sell all and buy that field. having discovered the simple truth as it is in Christ, we, like the Thessalonians, received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. And may that bright shining candle, that pure gospel truth that has been given to us and applied to us by the Holy Spirit, continue to shine from us. That we in turn might be a light in a dark place, a gospel witness, light in this world, light to those who as yet continue to walk in darkness. As we know, from our Lord's Day studies recently. The Lord Jesus Christ told us, I am the light of the world. But he also told his church and his people, ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. How so? We lighten the world when we preach Christ, when we witness for Christ, when we trust in Christ, and when we rest in him alone for all our righteousness. So may the Lord enable us to do that. Amen.