Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at some scripture from Psalms 119, but before we do that, I wanted to ask you a question.
Are you the kind of person who likes to conserve energy? When we first moved out to our home in the woods, we were trying to get by as cheaply as we could. Many years ago, I found a product that we really, really enjoyed. Instead of leaving the lights on at bedtime at night, we would shut the power off and dig out some new flashlights that we had purchased from the store. They were a special kind of rechargeable flashlight. They had a handle on the side, and you’d crank it up for a minute or two, and then you’d have a strong light for about 10 or 15 minutes. It was bright enough to read, brush your teeth or do a few small things around the house. But as time went by, the light would slowly start to dim. The rechargeable battery was starting to die. I’d pick up the flashlight off of my pillow and give it another wind for a minute or two, and I was good for about 20 more minutes.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
There is a very important thing that I learned when doing this. We need to keep charging ourselves up so that the light will shine brightly in our lives. The thing that charges us up are the teachings of the Holy scriptures. When we hear the Bible preached everyday, it’s like giving a few more winds on my flashlight.
Psalms 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
God’s word is very much like that wind up flashlight that helps us to see when we are walking in the dark. Nowadays they sell headlamps that you can strap on your head. They’re really nice to have but again the batteries need to be charged up in order to see. Our hearts are very similar to a battery. The teachings of God’s Word charges each of us up So that our lights will shine brightly and we can see that narrow path that God wants us to be on.
Have you ever been camping somewhere on a pitch black night and then run out of batteries? You have to stumble around in the dark and try to feel your way back to the tent. God’s word is a lamp unto our feet. It helps us, it guides us, and brightens the path that leads us to heaven. Just like you need batteries in a flashlight, you need oil in your lamp to see where you’re going.
Matt 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
This passage is not only a story about procrastination but also teaches us that we need light in order to see where we’re going..Notice that he came at midnight and they needed to go out to meet him. How can you find anybody in the dark? They had no light to guide the path that led to him. God has given us a light to help us find our way to to be with him someday, you just have to make sure your battery is charged up and ready to go each day. It’s a very dark place that we live in. Sin is around every corner. There are roads that lead off in completely wrong directions. We have to use the light that we’ve been given to see the correct path that leads to Christ.
……. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Think about how far the production of headlights in automobiles has progressed in the last hundred years. They used to use oil and acetylene lamps and you really couldn’t see very far with them.
Nowadays, they’ve got LED lights so that you can see further and further down the road. They are incredibly bright and help us to see all the obstructions at night.
Can you imagine driving down the highway and shutting your lights off for a few moments? That’s a pretty nerve-wracking thought isn’t it. There are many people who do it today and don’t even think about it. The sad thing is they profess to be Christian but they’re not charging up their hearts with God’s Word each day.
Just like the five wise virgins we need to prepare ourselves right now. Today is the day of salvation. We need to fill up with God’s word day by day while it is called today. Heaven is a prepared place for those who have prepared themselves while here upon the Earth. We need to charge up our batteries each day by hearing God’s word and applying it to our lives. It’s only by God’s truth that we can see through the darkness of this place.
I will never forget many years ago when I was able to take a tour of a massive cave somewhere out by South Dakota. It was so big that they had an elevator that took you down in to it. It felt like like we were going deep down into a coal mine.
Inside of the cave they had built a massive walkway system so that you could easily view everything. Halfway through the tour, the park ranger stopped the group. He asked if we wanted to see some real darkness. The crowd responded, sure, and then they shut all of the lighting off. I put my hand in front of my nose and I could not see it at all. Imagine what it must have been like for somebody who mapped caves for a living, but ran out of oil for their lamp.
Without a light while you’re walking down the road in the middle of the night you can trip, fall down and even get hurt. You can find yourself going the completely wrong direction. In the church we need to see where we are going in order to get to the final destination. Think about how many years that they’ve used lighthouses to guide ships into the harbor. These massive lights would help guide the ship through the darkness of night so they didn’t crash upon the rocks. Each day we need to be lit up with God’s truth so that we can walk on the narrow path of Christ. We want to see where we are going so we don’t accidentally get lost and begin to walk on the wide Road. God’s word is a light so that we don’t trip and fall down into the mud. It lights our way so that we’re not deceived by false teachings. It lights our path so that we can see the others who are on the same walk with us.
…….Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 43:3 – O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
That’s exactly what we are speaking about today. You need to be guided down the path of life, the light of Holy Scripture, so that we can see our way through this world and make it all the way home to heaven to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. .God’s word is the truth. We can’t add to it, we don’t subtract from it, we simply want to become a doer of it. The reason why is because when we do it, we will be blessed in our deed. God wants to put us on the best path. It’s narrow and less traveled, but it’s the best path to be on.
Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”
John 14:5-6. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
In order to find our way, the Lord provided us with a light. It’s found in His Holy word. In order to obtain eternal life someday, we need to stay on the right path. In order to see the right path, you need the light of His Word in your hearts. The foolish virgins couldn’t see at midnight and that’s why we need to prepare right now. Remember Noah prepared for the flood that was coming. We need to prepare and grow each day in God’s word. As I said at the beginning, the further away you get from the teachings of scripture the dimmer your light is going to become. In order to become a shining light to others, we need to be filled up with the light of scripture. God’s Word is a lamp that lights not only our path, but the path of others walking alongside with you.
Mark 4:21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
Matt 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
In order to be a light to others, you must first have the light yourself. You have to have the fuel of scripture inside of your heart in order to be a light to the world. You must first be able to see the path in order to guide others around you and it’s not going to happen without scripture in your heart. Have you ever tried following someone in the dark? Both of you will end up in the ditch. How can you follow somebody you can’t see?
Each of us need to take that flashlight and wind it up. Keep those batteries charged up with God’s Word.
…….The Rechargeable Flashlight
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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