The Lamp Of Life

INTRO

Let me ask you a couple of silly questions. Have you ever walked down a darkened hallway in the middle of the night, and then stubbed your toe, or bumped into a wall or something else? How about this one: have you ever walked outside at night without the use of artificial light and tripped on something you didn’t know was beneath your feet? I have — lots of times —in both respects; and ya know, it always hurts.

A couple of years ago, I went outside after dark to look at the stars in ways we couldn’t while back in Minnesota. I stepped from the porch, with the lights of course, and then I tripped on the water-hose. Down I went, taking Danielle and Hallie with me. Truth be known — they kinda cushioned my fall. However, I still managed to take a chunk out of my big toe.

The lesson I learned is that little light above the porch is there to light the path below so we can see our feet and not trip. Maybe that’s why someone — at least far wiser than me— invented things like nightlights, porch lights, sidewalk lights and other such gadgets that light the paths beneath of feet.

Let’s hear more about the lights God gives to us to light the path beneath our feet. Please turn in your bibles to Psalm 119:105–112.

LAMPS LIGHT THE WAY (V105)

Let’s start out our time by looking at V.105. The psalmist wrote, READ PSALM 119:105. You know, the interesting thing about man-made lights, we only need them to walk safely during the darkened hours. When the sun is shining brightly, we don’t need artificial light to be lamps onto our feet. But, when can’t see the sun shine, or it’s around the other side of the earth, things like artificial lights help light the paths beneath our feet.

Now, could you imagine living without with sun? Okay, we truly can’t live without the sun. Without its radiant heat and light, the earth would freeze rather quickly, and life would cease within days, weeks or months. Still, in reality, there are folks — like those in Alaska, Scandinavia, and Northern Canada, who — for at least half the year — endure seasons with very little sunlight. It is said that many people succumb to depression during these periods of prolonged darkness.

We need the sun to shine brightly upon our lives, not just light the paths to beneath our feet, but to keep us sane, happy, and on an even-keel. As it is physical, the same works in the spiritual. God gave us his son to be the light of the world. He gave us his son to shine his light in the darkness, and to be the light that illuminates the path beneath of feet.

The Apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (Jn 1:1–5).

Just like the sun at the center of our solar system shines upon planet, warms us, and sustains our physical lives; the son of God — who is the Word of God, —shines upon our lives, gives us life and sustains us in all ways: spiritually, physically and emotionally. Without him, we’d cease to be — even those who fail to pay him tribute.

Through the light that shined upon him, the Apostle John revealed a new truth to humanity. That truth was that God had in fact come to this earth, as the bright and shining Son, to light the paths beneath our feet, so that we no longer have to walk in darkness. Even if it seems like we can’t feel the warmth of God’s sunlight, we always have the son with us, just as the sun in the heavens is always with us, whether we can feel it’s heat or see its bright light.

Still, there are times when it does seem as though God is distant —maybe like he’s shining on another side of the world, or in those times when we’re travelling through dark valleys. It’s in those times —especially in those times — when God says, “I’m here to be your nightlight, sidewalk lights, and your flashlight, so that you can safely walk the path I’ve chosen for you. God is saying, “My word is a nightlight and flashlight unto your feet. Plug me in and turn me on so that you don’t tip and fall in the darkness of the world.”