Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
There have been a lot of jobs in society that were performed in the past, but now they have become very few and far between. One such job was being charged with the responsibility of walking around the town at dusk, and lighting the lamps. Like a modern day paper boy, attending to his paper route, a lamplighter was assigned to take care of a certain number of lamps each day. It was his duty to make sure that they had enough fuel to burn brightly through the night. Perhaps you can envision one of these workers in your head as they walked around the town, carrying a ladder and some lamp oil to fill or to fix the lamps. Like a honey bee moving from flower to flower, they would walk down the streets, moving from lamp to lamp, using a long pole to reach up to light them. With a touch of their flame, the wick would quickly ignite, illuminating the street below, and helping people to find their way through the darkness.
This reminds me of the Christian Life
There aren’t many lamplighters left in the world today, just as God’s laborers are few. Not many people want the responsibility, or they simply don’t have the time, but there is a great need, now more than ever. As the return of Christ approaches, men need to rise up and take on the responsibility of filling all the lamps with oil. Like a lamplighter, this is the role of those who preach God’s Word. They light our hearts with the flame of God’s truth, igniting the embers with the oil of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
This is a world that is filled with the darkness of sin, and in order for people to find their way through it, they will need some light to see where they are going. People’s hearts and minds are clouded through the deceitfulness of this temporal dwelling place. Like walking through a dark part of town, they are blinded from the obstructions and dangers that lurk around every corner. Somebody needs to light the lamp of their hearts so that they have the opportunity to walk safely through this world.
Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Think about how many airplanes fly each night in complete darkness, but when the runway is illuminated, they can see their surroundings and navigate their vessel to a safe touchdown on the tarmac. It is the light of scripture that guides us and helps us discern the dangers of sin in this world. It is the light of scripture that provides us with wisdom, to see the course of action that we must take. It is the light of scripture that gives us the advice of Holy men of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and leads us on the narrow path of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Each day, Jesus would sow the truth of God’s Word into the heart of His disciples. He helped them to grow in their faith and filled them with Spiritual knowledge so that they could overcome this world, and eventually become beacons of light to the world. But one must always remember that in order to be a light unto others, you must first be filled with light yourself. This is why the Apostle admonished Timothy to continue in the doctrine. When you are filled with the light of God’s Truth, you can pass that light on to others.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Jesus is the light, and His Word is the light of all men. Men of God need to rise up and speak the truth and let others see the light of the Gospel so that they can repent, be converted and turn from sin. Without light, people can get lost, confused and end up going in the wrong direction.
Matthew 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. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
As we hear the Word of God preached and taught, we can fill up with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Each day we have the opportunity to seek God in order to grow and gain knowledge and wisdom, but as the story illustrates, some people do not have the oil of scripture inside of their hearts. They do not have the truth of God’s word abiding in them, which prevents them from performing God’s will and eventually obtaining eternal life.
When a lamp is out of fuel, there is nothing left for them to find their way through the darkness. Neither can they be a light to the world because the light is not burning within them. Jesus is the source of light. He is the truth by which we are sanctified and prepared for the coming kingdom of God. We must have God’s word abiding in our hearts, and this is why the preaching of God’s Word and the feeding of God’s sheep is commanded in the scriptures. The five foolish virgins had the opportunity to fill their vessels beforehand, but they never even bothered to get ready. When the time came, it was too late, and they were shut out.
So, like the old street lights, each of us is a lamp that needs to be filled up with oil and burning brightly. Somebody needs to be putting oil in them, and God’s laborers are few. The calling to all men is to preach and teach God’s Word. There is lots of work to do and plenty of lamps to light. Hopefully you will accept the truth and take upon yourself the responsibility of becoming one of God’s
….. Lamplighters
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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