Keep Your Lamps Burning
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,”
Luke 12:35
Hopelessness is the deepest darkness. I know. People are dying. People are taking their own lives in despair.
… darkness was over the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:2b),
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4). He called the darkness night but didn’t say the darkness was good.
Fast forward to Israel building the tabernacle, God’s holy, dwelling place. “Command the Israelites to bring you [Moses] clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning… Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning (Exodus 27:20-21).
The lampstand and light symbolize Jesus as the Light-bearer and the Light.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John1:5).
Jesus hung on the cross in darkness. He was temporarily separated from God, His Father. He gave up his spirit of light momentarily so that the Father could fulfill his promises to us. The grave was dark. He went to the grave alone to give us the eternal light of heaven and light in our hearts until then.
How to keep our light shining:
Develop a genuine relationship with the Lord, the Truth.
Act in love and consideration of others.
May our words build up one another (Ephesians 4:29).
Be in the dark world but be counter cultural. Our world is dark and attempts to snuff us out. Discouragement dims our light. Dear ones, suicide is increasing, especially amongst our young people. Don’t believe the lies of darkness.
Our lamps flicker and stop shining when:
We disconnect from the Vine and the Word from sin-hardened hearts; from apathy (being lukewarm), lack of prayer, isolation from God’s community.
You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29).
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8).
Karen Sims
