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Mar 25, 2022 18:30pm

Shine Your Light

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I’ve always been afraid of the dark. I’ll turn the light off in the room only to run and jump on the bed for fear of what could be lurking underneath or behind me. There’s a reason why bad things happen in the dark; their evil deeds and wickedness can be concealed. No one can see it if it’s in the dark, right?

As I pull the covers over my head, my imagination runs wild about what’s happening on the other side of the blanket. Is someone in the room? Was that a noise I heard? A shadow? My heart is racing. Terrified, I reach for the knob on the lamp and with two clicks light spills from it, illuminating the room and revealing exactly what was hidden… my 14 year old brother trying to scare me.

Light is a beautiful thing.

In Exodus 25:31-40, God gives Moses the instructions on creating a golden lampstand. It consisted of 7 lamps, or bowls, was made of pure gold, was about 5 1/2 ft wide and rested in the Holy Place. These lamps, or bowls were to be filled with pure olive oil and never be put out all at once. They would burn continuously.

“And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” (Exodus 25:31-40)

The lamp stand’s purpose was to give light to the priests as they entered the Holy Place. But it meant so much more than that.

The gold represented God’s Deity.

The oil represents the Holy Spirit.

And the lampstand itself, the giver of light, represents Jesus as the Light of the World.

If you are a believer in Christ, you too have a light that should never be hidden. It should shine forth to allow others to see truth. It should point them in the direction they are to go, towards Jesus. Your light is fueled by the Holy Spirit within!

Maybe you haven’t given your life to Christ. Maybe you are still hiding in the darkness, with your secrets and sins concealed. You steer away from church, reading the Bible or talking to Christian friends because that’s where the light is. If it shines to brightly, they’ll see what you have hidden. They will know your sins. My friend, Jesus already knows. Confess those sins to Him and be free from that bondage!

Believer, pray with me – Fill me Lord with your Holy Spirit so that I might shine for you! Help me to lead others to the truth! Help me to love as you love!