As Christians, we should all desire to be witnesses to the lost around us. The bible states that we are called to be light to a darkened world. A light that not only draws men to the saving power of Jesus Christ, but as Jesus said, “a candle on a candlestick” which “gives light to all that are in the house” (Matthew 5:15)—an example of Christ unifying the church. As servants and priests in our Master’s house, we need to be faithful in our duties to maintain the house; to keep our lights shining.
WISE SERVANTS
Jesus said our “flesh is weak” and can cause us to turn away from God only to enter into temptations which could cause us to sin. We are to continually watch and pray so that we do not enter into temptation (Matthew 26:41). According to Jesus’ parable of the talents, a wise servant is one who receives a talent from his master and uses it to gain a return on the master’s investment (Matthew 25:14, Luke 6:38).
Likewise, Jesus also gave to us what the Father had given to Him. John states that the Word was Jesus, who became flesh and dwelt among us that we would be the ‘return on the Father’s investment’ (John 1:14, John 17:8). Jesus, nearing the end of His time on earth, said He would send the Holy Spirit, who would teach and remind us of the things He taught so that we would not be Comfortless (John 14:26). Jesus prayed, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou has sent me, and hast loved them, as thou has loved me.” It’s with these two wonderfully abundant gifts, Jesus and the Holy Spirit , that we are able to hear from God, edify the Church, and then reach out to those who still dwell in darkness (Acts 26:18).
THE CALLING
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” (1 Peter 2:9).
Peter said, regarding those who are born again, you are a “royal priesthood” who has been called to leave the dark, sinful nature like we once lived before believing in Jesus. In the Old Testament, the only way people could know God was through a priest (Exodus 29:42). To be a priest during the time of the Mosaic Tabernacle meant performing rituals of animal sacrifice and burnt offerings upon an altar to be accepted by God. Only when a priest completed the ceremonial sanctification could the priest himself encounter God (Exodus 29).
As royal priests of the New Covenant we also need to be sanctified and to continuously consecrate ourselves to God. However, we no longer require an animal sacrifice or a burnt offering as in the Old Testament. Jesus became our sacrifice once and for all (Ephesians 5:2) and in doing so, we can become sanctified and cleansed from sin by faith (Acts 26:18). Thus, being cleansed from sin, we can now be in God’s presence through Jesus our Great High Priest (John 14:6, Hebrews 5:14, John 17:19).
As in the Mosaic Tabernacle, once we’ve presented ourselves as a living sacrifice, God meets with us, and speaks with us (Exodus 29:42). It’s during this time of presenting ourselves to the Lord that our minds are transformed by the word of God and our fleshly ways conformed to His will (Ephesians 5:26, Romans 12:2). Some ways we can commune with God and enter into His presence is through prayer, worship, or reading the Bible. In doing these the Holy Spirit, through the word, discerns the thoughts and intent of our hearts and reveals to us so that we can be cleansed, spotless and without blemish upon Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Hebrews 4:12, John 14:26, Ephesians 5:27).
BUILDING THE CHURCH
We’re not only called as servants “into His marvelous light” but Jesus said we are “the light of the world” and as “a city that is set on a hill” we “cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14). As we walk in His marvelous light, we become a light to the world, A pillar and refuge for those who are lost to see (Exodus 34:30).
Jesus compared all people as a “smoking flax” or a candle wick (Matthew 12:20) which has burnt its wax only to smolder. Once we become born again, part of our priestly duty is to trim the wick of our lamps and fill our lamps’ vessel with oil (Exodus 30:7-8). In Jesus’ parable of the 10 virgins we are to then set ourselves on a lamp stand to give light to all that are in the house (Exodus 30:7-8, Matthew 25:7).
In the Tabernacle of Moses, God called and gifted workmen to build the required vessels through the instruction of Moses (Exodus 36:1-2). Each vessel had its individual purpose, and all were to be used by the guidance of Moses. In the church today, God has also called apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists…as gifted workmen to build the church, His vessels, by the word of God, which is Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:28). As vessels set apart for God’s purpose, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, teach each other, encourage each other, sing spiritual songs—keeping ourselves in the love of God, looking, watching for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Colossians 3:16, Romans 8:23, Jude 1:20).
As light, we can’t help but shine. This Light within us is not of ourselves but of God. He has divided us from the darkness in this world and has given us His name (Genesis 1:4-5, Romans 8:15). It’s up to us to not hide anymore in fear, but by faith present ourselves as sacrifices, holy and acceptable, to be used by God daily. Once we do this, we can then “shew” Jesus to as many has He has called— by being a lampstand burning for light to the world and to the household of God (Genesis 3:8, John 3:16, John 1:12, Exodus 25:30-31).