Luke 8

“No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light.  For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come into light.  Therefore take care how you listen.  For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”  Luke 8:16-18 (HCSB)

When I was five years old, my brother and I decided to play with fire, passing our hands quickly through a candle flame.  I don’t remember how many candles we went through that day, but eventually, we got bored and started challenging one another to go slower with each pass.  As the saying goes: Play with fire, and you’ll get burned.

Today’s passage reminded me of the impracticality of putting a candle in a basket or under a bed.  Not only will these practices keep light from shining (which is the purpose of lighting a lamp), but they will also burn down your house!

Jesus told His disciples that one of the signs of a believer is their desire to share the gospel with others.  

Desire and boldness are two different ideas.  We can have the desire to share our faith, but we may not act upon that desire if we are seized with fear.  Jesus is saying, “Go for it!  Be bold!”  

Believers should resist the flesh’s natural bent towards self-preservation with respect to evangelism.  Furthermore, Jesus conveys that it is IMPOSSIBLE for real followers to hide their relationship with Him long-term.  Just as a lit candle in a basket (or under a bed) will eventually ignite its container and spread its fire, a true believer’s relationship with Jesus cannot be hidden for long.

If you are successful in hiding your “lamp,” perhaps you should check and see if there is any flame on the wick!

I have attended several “memorial” events where everyone was given a candle.  Somewhere in the service, one candle is lit.  Then, its flame is shared with the next person, and so on, until everyone’s candle is illuminated.  This concept is the idea Jesus is communicating when He talks about how those “who have” are given more.

Suppose someone tries to recreate the candle lighting ceremony at another congregation across the street, but they never light their “starter” candle.  Instead of a room full of lit candles, there is only darkness.  Eventually, everyone would go across the street, where true illumination would replace the image of it.  “Even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”

Share your light if you’ve got it.   If you don’t have it, please allow me to share my light with you: Jesus is the ONLY Way, and if you turn to Him, you WILL be saved!