Light Is Needed!

John noted Jesus as the "TRUE LIGHT" that came into this world, though He was rejected by many. (read John 1:9-13) When God began His creation, He started with light. ( Genesis 1:3) Light is necessary for life. In His discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus Himself mentioned "THE LIGHT" that had come into the world, but many loved darkness instead of "THE LIGHT" because their deeds were evil, and so they refused to come into THE LIGHT. ( John 3:19-20) Darkness does not make the world a better place. Light is needed! Still, even today "liberals" want to block out THE LIGHT.

In 1880, an anti-religious, agnostic lawyer -- an atheist by the name of George Walser -- began what was referred to as a "freethinker" utopia; a town that was called "Liberal, Missouri." He purchased 2000 acres of land and advertised for atheists across the country to come and "found a town without a church, [w]here unbelievers could bring up their children without religious training," and where Christians were not allowed. "His idea was to build up a town that should exclusively be the home of Infidels. . . a town that should have neither God, Hell, Church, nor Saloon." Some of the early inhabitants of Liberal even encouraged other infidels to move to their town by publishing an advertisement which boasted that Liberal "is the only town of its size in the United States without a priest, preacher, church, saloon, God, Jesus, hell or devil." [source: Wikipedia]

What became of the society within this towns borders? According to an article published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Saturday, May 2, 1885 by an experienced preacher, debater, and author named Clark Braden: "The boast about the sobriety of the town is false. But few of the infidels are total abstainers. Liquor can be obtained at three different places in this town of 300 inhabitants. More drunken infidels can be seen in a year in Liberal than drunken Christians among one hundred times as many church members during the same time. Swearing is the common form of speech in Liberal, and nearly every inhabitant, old and young, swears habitually. Girls and boys swear on the streets, playground, and at home. Fully half of the females will swear, and a large number swear habitually . . . Lack of reverence for parents and of obedience to them is the rule. There are more grass widows, grass widowers and people living together, who have former companions living, than in any other town of ten times the population. . . . A good portion of the few books that are read are of the class that decency keeps under lock and key. . . . These infidels . . . can spend for dances and shows ten times as much as they spend on their liberalism. These dances are corrupting the youth of the surrounding country with infidelity and immorality. There is no lack of loose women at these dances. Since Liberal was started there has not been an average of one birth per year of infidel parents. Feticide is universal. The physicians of the place say that a large portion of their practice has been trying to save females from consequences of feticide. In no town is slander more prevalent, or the charges more vile. If one were to accept what the inhabitants say of each other, he would conclude that there is a hell, including all Liberal, and that its inhabitants are the devils." [source: Wikipedia]

Clark Braden also remarked "It took only a few short years for Liberal's unattractiveness and inconsistency to be exposed. . . . Only five years after its establishment, Braden indicated that "[n]ine-tenths of those now in town would leave if they could sell their property. More property has been lost by locating in the town than has been made in it. . . . Hundreds have been deceived and injured and ruined financially."
[source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal%2C_Missouri)]

It appears that a community built on the basis of unbelief, was not long an attraction to even those who did not believe. It has been noted that even the founder of this community later made a shift to spiritualism and then to Christianity. Light is needed and will have its impact.

Jesus exhorted us to accept the role when He said. . .
"(14) 'YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (16) In the same way, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE before others, so that they may SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS and GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.'" ( Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Those around us may not always like THE LIGHT that exposes, but for THE LIGHT to be removed will only create a dismal place to live. May HIS LIGHT in our life simply continue doing what light does; SHINE!

Have a great day BEING THE PRESENCE THIS WORLD NEEDS!
Carl

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