July 5, 2024
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
- Revelation 1:20
The Bible is a symbolic book, it uses symbols to represent spiritual concepts. One such representation is the church as a lampstand (or candlestick in the KJV of Revelation 1:20). The lampstand was one of three items in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. The other items were the Altar of Incense and the Table of Shewbread. In Hebrew, it is referred to as “Menorah”.
The lampstand was made of pure gold and was fabricated according to the instructions God gave Moses in Exodus 25:31-40. Its purpose was to give light “You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it” Exodus 25:37. For the lamp to give light, it had to burn continually. The children of Israel brought pure oil from pressed olives to Aaron the high priest and he used the oil to tend to the lamp from evening till morning (Exodus 27:20-21).
A unique feature about light is that it shines, dispels darkness and brings light to the area it is shining in. The Bible records in John 1:5 “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it”. The world as we know it today is in a dark place. The NIV translation of Isaiah 60:2a reads “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples”. God’s remedy for the darkness that is in the world is the church.
Yesterday, we saw how Christ is our lampstand as believers. Similarly, we, believers, are the body Christ and thus are the church. We too ought to be a light to our world—a lampstand continually shining for the world. Christ says to us in Matthew 5:14-15
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house”.
This is God’s expectation of us as believers…to go light up the world for Him.
For us to light up the world, we must have the light of Christ in us. Jesus says in John 8:12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”.
We must remember that we were once unsaved, living in darkness (Ephesians 5:8) but have been rescued from the dominion of darkness (Colossians 1:13) into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9)
We should therefore, being compelled by the love of God that came upon us when we got saved, be moved by the plight of the unsaved (just like Christ was, when He offered His life for ours and we accepted His sacrifice) to preach the light of the gospel of Christ to them, giving light to their darkness just like the golden lampstand.
Song of Worship
I’ve got the light of God in me, I’ve got the spirit of the Son of God
I’ve got the light of God in me
Prayer - Dear Lord, thank you for Your Word and the understanding that comes therein. Let Your light that is in me shine, so that through me, Your servant, souls can be saved and Your name glorified in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible in 1 year: Job 30-31
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