"Truth shines more brightly the widely it is diffused." - John Wycliffe

 

If you ever looked at the label of a fruit juice bottle, you will notice that most fruit juice contains as much sugar per serving as a can of soda (what us Coloradoans like to call "pop").  Sometimes we dilute our kids' juice by adding more water.  When we do that, we diffuse it.  It has two advantages - it gives us more juice and it reduces the sugar.  However, it has a big disadvantage - it doesn't taste good.  I admit ... I like the sugar.

 

Still, diffusion can be good.  John Wycliffe had a plan to spread the Word of God through his city, state, country, and world.  As more and more people believed that gospel, he knew that the faith of many would draw even more people to the kingdom of God.  The glory of God's truth is more brilliant when many people acknowledge its truthfulness.  We could think of it more like a candle.  One candle is not especially bright, but if billions of people stand together, each holding a candle, it will create a scene visible from outer space.  When a whole community believes the gospel the light of that faith will draw others away from their own darkness and give praise to God.

 

Have you ever invited someone to do something and the first question they ask is, "Who is going?"  It doesn't matter if the event is worthwhile or not, it only matters who is planning to go.  If a lot of people are planning to attend, then it suddenly looks more interesting than if only a few are planning to attend.  People may try something out just because a lot of people are doing it. 

 

We need to pray and work that the Word of God would grow in our community (Acts 19:20) and many disciples be won to Jesus Christ.  This was the vision of Wycliffe.  John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English in 1382 so that many would believe in the truth of God's Word.  He set England blazing with the gospel.  So many people were rediscovering Christ that, "You could scarcely meet two persons in the road, but one of them would be a disciple of Wycliffe".  Men and women were reading their Bibles together, forming together in small groups for study, and sending gospel preachers into every community.  It influenced all England. He died peacefully, but the Roman Catholic Church was so angry with him they eventually dug up his body, burned his remains and cast the ashes into a small river.  In a fitting eulogy, one man wrote, "the little river conveyed Wycliffe's remains into the Avon, the Avon into the Severn, Severn into the narrow seas, they to the main ocean.  And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine, which is now dispersed all the world over."

 

We are working and praying for the "diffusion of truth" into our community and nation.  When we plant churches, give away Bibles, or meet in small groups we are showing forth the glory of God's truth.  May God give us delight in the truth of His Word.  May he show forth the truthfulness of truth through the faith of many who believe.

 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16