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The call to enter for the second time into any painful experience is a sign of our Lord’s confidence. It offers a great opportunity. “The most powerful thing in your life is your opportunity,” said Kleobulos of Lindos; it is also the most irretrievable. We must have clearness of vision and courage and a quiet mind if we are to see it, and lay hands upon it as it hurries past us on very quiet feet and disappears as utterly as the day that has gone: “As thy servant was busy here and there” it was gone. God give us vision and courage and a quiet mind.
Others have been in those woods. Their words, when they speak at all, are nearly always simple: “Whatsoever thou hearest, seest, or feelest, that should hinder thee in the way, abide not with it wilfully, tarry not for it restfully, behold it not, like it not, dread it not; but ever go forth in thy way, and think thou wouldest be at Jerusalem. For that thou covetest, and that thou desirest, and naught else but that. And also if men would delay thee with tales and feed thee with falsehoods, to draw thee to mirths and to leave thy pilgrimage, make a deaf ear and answer not again, and say naught else but that thou wouldest be at Jerusalem. And if men proffer thee gifts and will make thee rich with worldly good, attend not to them; think ever on Jerusalem.”
Yes, we would be at Jerusalem and at none other place but there. And as we journey, our heart fastened to this purpose so that none can shake us from it, our woods are enlightened to farthest rim.
We have called the wood dark because, as in the other wood, darkness must be crossed before the light is reached. But it is the light, not the darkness, that is remembered. The rough grass is like a bright carpet. The very substance of the tree trunk appears to be penetrated by light. We cannot see for the glory of that light. Dearly, very dearly, hast Thou loved us, O Jesus our Redeemer. Thou hast led us according to the integrity of Thy heart; and guided us by the skilfulness of Thy hands. Thou hast raised up Thy power and come among us; and with great might succored us. And in love has Thy word been fulfilled, “I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”
But He could not forsake us: Can a woman forget, that she should not have compassion? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. And we shall find that when we have to go again through some dark wood the angel of the Lord comes again the second time, and touches us, and says, “Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee”—kind angel, patient angel; he has a cruse of water ready and cake baked on the coals. For the angels are like their Lord: He had a fire of coals and fish laid thereon and bread ready for His tired fishermen. Hear Him in the storm: “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” And when they were afraid again: “Why are ye troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? It is I Myself.” Four words can be very consoling: “It is I Myself.”