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Aug 10, 2023 18:30pm

The Light Giver

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I was reading a book recently about a mining operation set back around the time of the civil war. The men were given a certain number of candles at the beginning of their shift that were supposed to last them during their work in the mine.

As part of any good plot, the hero and the damsel in distress became trapped in the mine by double-crossing silver robbers. Only, one of the men, a miner who was in bad financial trouble, was sorry for the mess he had gotten into and was trying to help the hero and his lady friend. He became trapped with them.

The robbers left them in the cave, and took their torches with them.

Darkness surrounded them. Pure black. No light at all. They all felt panic and desperation. Recorded on the pages were the thoughts and fears of each person trapped as they felt hopeless.

But the miner reached into his pocket and produced a half burned candle. They knew it would only last for a short time so they had to be quick about their business. The light from the candle allowed them to search the passageways for an exit or at least some more candles or torches.

Here’s an interesting thought. The light is amazing, in and of itself, but what strikes me here isn’t just the light, but the one who lit the flame.

See, someone had to light the candle before it could shine. The candle has no power of its own, only that which is provided by the one who lit it.

Luke 8:16-18

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

I think I’ve been looking at this scripture the wrong way. At first glance, I might consider myself the man who lit the candle and I hold the candle for all to see. But let’s look at this passage in a new light (of course I had to say that) in comparison to our analogy from before.

What if we are the candle? We have no power in and of ourselves. We are simply a tool, a vessel to be used. Without the light, we are in complete darkness and useless.

Jesus is the light giver. He has the power to illuminate. He saves us, putting His light within us. And when the wick is lit, the light begins to do what? It reveals that which was in the dark. It allows us to see our true sinful state. Little by little we gain understanding of God’s truth and how the darkness we were once apart of, can no longer be since there is light.

Are you following?

Jesus is the man that strikes the match. We are the candle. He lights the candle.

And the biggest truth that will be made known will be those that truly have the light and those that don’t.

The verse says “take heed therefore how you hear” or “pay attention”. When the Word of God is preached, do you listen with a repentant heart? Or do you walk away like a candle without a flame?

Just some thoughts to ponder this morning.