Photo by Paul Venturo
Sometime the boys and I walk back from the bathhouse in the dark. And sometimes we forget to bring a light. It is very difficult to walk back in the dark without stumbling or losing our way.
When God was giving instructions to Moses for building the Tabernacle, He said, "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the LORD’s presence all night" (Exodus 27:20-21).
The Lord thought it important that there should be continuous light in the Tabernacle. The Scriptures do not give us a reason. Maybe it was a reflection of God’s character, for “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5). Since God is light, John goes on to say that we should walk in light in order to have fellowship with Him. Walking in light is illustrative of obeying God’s Word and fighting sin. Maybe the light was to continually shine so that the Israelites could come to God at any time day or night. In the same, way we have access to God through the blood of Jesus Christ (I John 2:1-2).
Maybe the continual light is illustrative of our light. Jesus said to "let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Everything we do should bring glory to God in such a way that it leads others to Him.
Is your light bright?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Used by permission. All rights reserved.