LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Luminaries in the World
"You are the light of the world; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14).
The church of Jesus appears in the Scriptures as three figures that complement each other: city, family and building. In the initial text, Jesus teaches us that his church is established as a city on a mountain, not to be hidden, but to be seen by all men. His church is made up of luminaries, "that you may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:14).
The church also has the figure of a candlestick. The candlestick has no light of its own; its light comes from the Lord. In the tabernacle and in the temple, the lampstand had on each of its seven branches a lamp that was fed with oil. The oil is the Holy Spirit and the lamps are the spirit of man: "The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching the innermost parts of his heart" (Prov. 20:27). These seven lamps also represent the men to whom the Spirit gives gifts so that the church may have full light.
The priests took care of the lampstand, feeding it with oil and trimming the wicks so that they would remain clean and not smoke. So also God does with us. This is the Lord's care for his church so that it may be filled with the Spirit and resplendent before men, without any impurity: "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord" (Eph. 5:18-19).
This is the testimony of the Lord for his church. But why is this not happening? why is his church not shining like a city set on a hill? why do men pass by it and not perceive it? Because the problem is in every house and therefore it cannot shine like a city: "Neither do men light a light and put it under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house" (Matt. 5:15).
If in every house we shine as a lamp, then the whole city will be illuminated. The church is an illuminated city, but it will not have light if in every house there is no light. The testimony of good works begins in our house and extends to the whole church. There will be no glory of God if our good works are not first known in our house. There will be great darkness in the city if in our homes we do not manifest His light: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
May the Lord cleanse us and fill us with his Spirit so that he may be glorified.