Like antique brass lamps.

     I recently broke out an old antique kerosene lamp that we owned and decided to clean it up.  Since it was solid brass it required a lot of time to polish the lamp body itself.  I spent a couple hours rubbing, shining and polishing.  After a little labor I stepped back and admired the finished product; it did look pretty good.  Mildly restored to its original beauty.

     However, I discovered that the brass knob that was used to raise and lower the wick was loose and no longer functioned.  I got out my soldering torch, flux and solder and attempted to repair the knob.  I just could not get the solder to grip, so the repair was unsuccessful.  I guess I would have to use another tool for raising and lowering the wick.  I guess that is why they invented the pliers!  With a solid grip and a few turns the wick was easily raised and lowered.

     Then, I noticed that over time the wick itself became hardened and uneven and needed to be trimmed.  So I found a razor blade and made a cut entirely around the round wick until it looked new.  The glass globe just needed a slight cleaning from years of neglect.  But a few quick swipes with a glass cleaner and paper towels and the globe look like new.  And there you have it, a pretty cool antique brass lamp in pretty good condition, except for the "missing" brass knob (because it couldn't get it reattached.)

   
     But, Brass lamps were never meant to be put on a shelf and just looked at, rather, they were highly purposeful and specialized pieces of history; quite functional tools.  Before the discovery of electricity, these lamps were used to actually give light in the midst of the darkness.  So I got some kerosene and carefully filled the lamp body.  Immediately the dry wick slurped up the kerosene and sent it ascending toward the very top of the lamp.  I couldn't wait!  The matches!  Adjusting the wick so as not to send a cloud of black soot toward my white ceiling, I carefully touched the lighted match to the wick until the fire caught and replaced the glass globe.  The light was amazing.  The soft yellow glow was accented and amplified by the antique glass globe.  Stunning.  These ancient lamps actually worked pretty well and sent a soft glow throughout the room.

    

     Reflecting upon the antique lamp I began to draw some parallels to my own life.  Like the old lamp, I realized that we spend a lot of time just maintaining and cleaning up the exterior, making it look presentable.  For some of us that is a formidable process!  Lots of polish and lots of labor just so we might admire or be admired by others.

     Like the lamp some of us have parts or "knobs" that may not function just perfectly any more.  So we assume that we just cannot work like we used to and become relegated to the shelf by our own self-imposed limitations.  We take up a posture that is passive in life; just to be looked at, rather that fully functional.  God can't use me, after all "I have a broken....."  Our excuses are extraordinary. 

     Lamps were made for burning and to give light to their surroundings.  People were also made to fully function in being vessels of light.  Jesus put it this way:

     

Matt. 5:14-18  "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.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." 

Isaiah 60:1, "Arise, Shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you."

     Like the antique brass lamp, we were not meant to just sit on a shelf and be admired.  We were actually designed to fully function in being vessels of light to others.  Lamps were meant to burn brightly; to push back the darkness just by their presence.  But, I guess like the lamp we too need a few adjustments.  But most importantly, we need oil in our lamps and to be lit up by the Holy Spirit, the source of fire.  Lamp were designed to burn brightly.  We were designed to bring the light of Jesus to a dark and needy world.

     Maybe we could ask the Lord for a refilling of oil and a fresh touch of fire so that we might begin to burn again.  People are really looking for the light that only you can carry.  Speaking of the coming of Jesus and the subsequent sending forth of Holy Spirit, John said this:

"...but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

• You were designed to burn brightly.
• In order to burn brightly we need the oil of the Holy Spirit.
• We need to be "lit up by Holy Spirit."  He is the source of our fire; our burning.
• Ask Him and he will give the Holy Spirit to those who are dry and sidelined.
• Light us up Lord!!!!