“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

It was a lovely warm evening as God’s children gathered together to welcome the Sabbath and begin a three day spiritual feast for their annual summer conference.

The theme for the conference was “Shining for Jesus”, based on the commission that Jesus gave His followers on the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5:16.

Brother Morris Lowe, President of the Canadian Field, opened the conference by giving the opening message entitled: Jesus the Light of the World.

How can we possibly shine for Jesus unless we know Him as our personal Saviour? He has to shine through us in order for us to shine. If we go back to creation, the first thing that God brought forth was light. Did He need light to see what He was doing? No. However, light is needed for all living things to prosper, whether physical light or spiritual light.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”  John 9:5. We cannot shine for Jesus without Jesus being within us. We cannot produce this light ourselves. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. We have all started out in sin and darkness and need Christ to dispel the darkness.

In the final days of this earth’s history, spiritual darkness will cover the earth and the only hope is in Jesus. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6. Jesus also said, “I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4–5. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. Will the light always be available? Forever? There is a time when Jesus will say, “It is finished.” To those who reject or postpone accepting the message of salvation, the light will one day be withdrawn. Today there are many people who are confused and do not know right from wrong. Men were created in the image of God, but Satan perverted this image. There are wars, bloodshed, and all kinds of evil crime in this world. Not to mention suicide, as people do not know that Jesus is the real solution to their problems. Jesus is not hiding the light, but “this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19. As we come closer to the end of time, it is getting more difficult to do missionary work—to find one soul who is sincerely seeking for truth and light.

The world is in gross darkness and we are called to shine for Jesus. Whose duty is this? It is the duty of every member of the church. Ask yourself, what you are doing for Jesus? People will not believe what the church preaches and teaches, as much as how the members live. May God help us each to make a commitment to shine.

Since we were all born in sin, we need to be translated into the kingdom of light while still on this earth in order to be able to shine for Jesus. Brother Elder Hernandez shared this subject. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. When the light comes, it brings a clearer vision of what was wrong. We are better able to discern between light and darkness. In the book of Revelation, Jesus spoke to His church by saying, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.” Revelation 3:15. It is not enough to just attend church, pay our tithes, sing, or even preach. Light comes when we realize our true condition and long for something better. Those are in darkness who feel they are, “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Revelation 3:17

We are to come to Jesus as we are, with no spiritual make-up. He is not waiting for beauty, but He calls us to come as we are. We are to recognize who we are and what a great need we have. The light of Jesus is a revealing light. Only His light can save us from the chaos of this world. Jesus is calling us to search for light and truth so that our old chaotic lives can become new and orderly in Christ.

The light of Jesus can never be turned off. “And the light shineth in darkness.” John 1:5. The light may be surrounded by darkness; there is sin all around us. But the light of Jesus cannot be extinguished. The Pharisees tried to extinguish it, but after the resurrection the light was even greater than before. In every generation the light continues to shine in spite of Satan’s best efforts to try to extinguish it.

Ask yourself, how is your flame? Is it still shining brightly? Or is it barely a flicker? Jesus asks us to shine, regardless of the circumstances. Jesus kept on shining all the way to the cross; and on the cross He continued to shine as He said, “Father, forgive them.” Luke 23:34. While there is still a little time, the Lord is calling those who are still undecided to make their decision to shine for Jesus. May the Lord help us to be translated into the kingdom of light.

On Sabbath morning, we were blessed to have Brother Joel Barnedo, General Conference Youth Leader, in our midst, to share with us the bread of life for the divine service. When it comes to shining for Jesus, Jesus is our best example. If we use His method of labour we will meet with success. His method of approach was the person-to- person approach. If we want to ensure success in our personal life we must study the life of Jesus. It is quite simple; a person does not always need to attend missionary school in order to shine for Jesus. Jesus mingled with men as one who desired their good.

Jesus showed concern as He ministered to their needs. He showed compassion. Then, giving them confidence, He asked for commitment when He said, “follow Me.” Concern-compassion-confidence-commitment. This method has proven to be successful in sharing the light of Jesus to those who are in darkness and giving them a desire to also come to the light and to shine for Jesus.

Brother Barnedo compared the members of the church to three different kinds of fish. The first being a shark. A shark is a fish that people do not love; rather the greater number of people fear sharks. When sharks come, people run, for fear of being eaten. Those who are like sharks are very zealous, but condemnatory in their gospel message—constantly denouncing other church groups as Babylon, and condemning their sinful practices and hammering them with the truth before introducing them to the love of Jesus. Their religion is a work-righteousness religion, based on fear.

The carp is a fish that does not do much activity. They are calm and quiet, being easy prey for sharks as they relax and rest a lot.  This fish represents those who sit back and do not involve themselves much in missionary activity. They humbly sit back in their pew and just watch and wait, doing little missionary work themselves.

Then there is the dolphin which has the zeal of the shark but the humility of the carp. Dolphins are fish that are loved. They have saved many people in the world.

Our missionary work should be like the dolphin. We need to begin by bring friendly—invite people to our homes or potlucks. The secret is friendship, not multiple talents. The science above all sciences is that of soul saving.  “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” Isaiah 58:6–8

We need to learn the methods of Jesus. Find out the needs of the people and supply those needs. If you talk more of Jesus, you will be surprised at the results. People will be naturally drawn to the light and will also desire to shine for Jesus.

Sabbath afternoon was filled with songs of praise and words of testimony and thanksgiving from the youngest children to the oldest adults. We also witnessed the blessed event of one of our young men who has dedicated his life to work for the Lord, Brother Renso Suarez, being ordained as an elder into his local church.

Brother Renso also gave the closing address of the day by sharing with us the subject, “People need the Lord.” How will this need be fulfilled? If God’s faithful followers shine for Jesus, this light will shine to those who are in darkness.  People need the Lord; the world needs the Lord. Over 200,000 people die in the world every day. How many are dying with the Lord? Every day the world is plunging deeper and deeper into darkness and people are coming to despair as we see the suicide rates increasing.

All throughout history, there have been people groping in darkness, seeking for some light. Jesus went through all the cities and villages, not selling, but healing their sicknesses and preaching the gospel. When Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion because they were as sheep without a shepherd. It is the shepherd that leads them to the good grass, providing them healthy foods, that helps them when they are sick, and keeps them from dangers. We are to be undershepherds for Jesus. The sheep cannot find their way home, but the shepherd leads them; and so, likewise, as people are groping in darkness in this world, we are to lead them to Jesus—to the kingdom of light.

Life is not easy on this earth, and sadly about 98% of Christians do not even know Christ. They are not shining for Jesus. The purpose of the church on earth is that each member would shine for Jesus, bringing souls to the feet of Jesus. In order to shine for Jesus, we must pray without ceasing, read our Bibles daily, and testify of His love to others. We speak to the Lord in prayer and He speaks to us in His Word; and then we are so happy that His light will shine through us to others.

Sunday morning we witnessed the baptism of four dear souls who buried their old lives in the watery grave of Lake Ontario, to begin a new life in Christ.  They have made a commitment to leave the world behind and go forward with Jesus.

The spiritual feast continued, with Brother Edwim Torres encouraging us to continue “walking in the light”. Walking requires movement. Jesus said, you are the light of the world. If you walk in light, you are light. You are living and practicing light. To walk in the light means you are walking in truth; walking uprightly; walking by faith; walking in love; walking in newness of light. The Bible sets the standard, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105.  To walk in the light means you are walking, and practicing the principles of the Bible. It is impossible for us on our own to reach this standard.

There are four steps we must follow in order for us to reach this standard. Wisdom (we need a knowledge of God), Christ our Righteousness (we need the righteousness of Christ to feed us), Sanctification (walking with Christ from the time we turn from evil until the end of our lives) and Redemption.

We can be partakers of the divine nature. Christ has given us power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to sin.  We need to analyse our lives to make sure we are walking in light and shining fully for Him.

The purpose of shining for Jesus is so that we can be ambassadors for Jesus—sharing the good news that we have a Saviour who loves us and died to save us. This subject was shared by Brother Nicholas Anca.  “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. God wants us to shine—not only for ourselves, but He has prepared us a work that each of us is to do with the aid of the Holy Spirit. In this work we need a personal experience with the Lord.  We do not need to be the most talented people to be an ambassador. The Lord calls simple men, not necessarily the most powerful. All that is written of Noah’s character was that he was a righteous man.

We never know where the Lord will lead us. Abraham was called to separate from his family and friends—separate from their idolatrous lifestyles and go and shine for Jesus amongst the inhabitants of Canaan. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9–10.  “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 143

In the final meeting of the conference, Brother Joel Barnedo encouraged each of the believers present to take this as a personal and individual message to go and “arise and shine” for Jesus.

The Lord has prepared your work for you before you were born. Will you fulfill the duties He placed before you? The believers were encouraged to take our publications and scatter them like the “leaves of autumn.” Personal ministry—carry literature with you at all times, looking for opportunities to share it. We scatter the seeds and the Holy Spirit will cause it to germinate. When we go canvassing, the best method is not to look like a salesman selling books, but to tell the people you have come to bring them Jesus, and then share your personal testimony. Even ministers of the gospel are encouraged to continue going house-to-house as the Lord opens up opportunities.

This is a solemn time in which we live—an age of gross darkness. We are all called to be shining lights for Jesus, going in search of those who are groping in this darkness and longing for a way out.

Each person present left the conference with much encouragement. May the enthusiasm continue as we all are filled with the fullness of Christ and go out and shine for Jesus. Our prayer is that our brethren and sisters in all parts of the world will take up the challenge and duty to shine for Jesus so that soon He will come and put an end to the misery and darkness on this earth.

Canadian Field Secretary