Shadows Of Our Lamp

John 8:12 – Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. (AMP)

It was towards the end of the day, and the children were at last in bed and asleep after a day of racing here and there, and swimming in the lake. The two dogs from two families, stretched out in opposite corners, probably having agreed upon a temporary truce, were asleep. The adults, weary from the fresh air, sun, and their constant vigilance watching the children, sat around the big kitchen table relaxing and drinking coffee.

My father-in-law had suffered a severe stroke at an early age, and had sold the family farm, but the farmer in him would not allow him to rest until he had purchased a small holding of one hundred acres. The old farm house, included in the purchase, was too dilapidated to invest great sums of money in, but with seven bedrooms was excellent for family gatherings.

As the night began to close in around us, oil lamps were lit, and I immediately became aware of the strange shadows being cast around the walls by the soot on the inside of the lamp globes. My mother-in-law remarked, "I must clean those lamps tomorrow."

That experience has been deeply embedded in my mind during the passing years. We acknowledge Jesus as the Light of the world, and as His disciples, we also have a responsibility to let our small light shine in our world. Sadly, some of us have failed our God, but God has provided for such a situation, and we have His Son to make propitiation for our sins. Yes, I know of one who failed for many years, but because God does not waste any of our experiences and failures, when that one returned to serve his Lord and Saviour, he was far more powerful in his ministry of counselling than during his former years. He realized the temptations and the attractions of the world, and with this experience, he became a more understanding counsellor and fellow Christian. May those who have allowed their lamps to flicker and burn out for any reason, draw near, this day, to the Light of the world, and be rekindled.

Prayer: Our gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for Your wonderful, forgiving love, a love which searches for us, then uses us to bring light into our world. Help us each day to look carefully at our spiritual lamps to ensure that the sin which creates shadows is cleaned daily. With confidence, we pray this prayer, in the name of Your Son and our Saviour, Christ Jesus. Amen.