Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light,” Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965).
What is our light? How can it go out? We learn in the Psalms, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Are we full of the light of the word of God? Do we read the Bible, think about it, and behave so that others recognize that we govern our life by God’s principles? Do we share our light with others? Are we, as Dr. Schweitzer suggests, rekindling the light of those whose candle may have gone out?
Or have we lost our first love? Are the things of God less meaningful to us, are we too busy to do the readings, to attend Bible class or meeting, to pray regularly, to discuss our beliefs with others? Has our light grown dim? Do we allow others to rekindle our light if it has blown out? Some have allowed their light to blow out and like it that way. They stay away from those whose light is burning brightly because, as Jesus said, “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
If our light has blown out, we need to rekindle it. We need to turn again to the word, to seek the Lord while He may be found. David tells us in the Psalms, “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” To relight our lamp God often sends trials which heighten our spiritual awareness. And a word fitly spoken by a fellow brother or sister can give that encouragement and support to help us turn again to the way of Truth and righteousness. “To this person,” Dr. Schweitzer says, “we owe our deepest thanks.” Paul tells us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
We have to be around each other in order to relight one another’s flame. One candle can light another candle and still keep its light. In fact, one candle can light many candles without diminishing its own flame.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains his connection with light. “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.” “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.”
Jesus has now ascended into heaven and we cannot see him as his disciples once did. As long as he was in the world he was the light of the world, but now that he has ascended to his Father he tells us, “Ye are the light of the world.” We are to believe in him, to follow him, to preach the word, and to do the work of God — in this way we become the light of the world.
Jesus also said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” So we have a commission from the Lord Jesus Christ to keep our light shining to help guide others in the way of life.
In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins we remember that “the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” Now is the time for us to keep our light shining. Jesus concluded his parable with this warning, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
We are so near to the Lord’s return, let us make sure our candle is lit that we may truly be “the light of the world.” Let us cling together and share our light with others so that our candle will help keep other flames aglow. May Jesus say of us as he said of John the Baptist. “John was a lamp that burned and gave light…”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One