Let there Be Light

Today we are in the midst of Shavuot, the Jewish festival of weeks, coming 50 days after the Passover. Shavuot is an agricultural festival but it is also a celebration of Moses receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Here is just a brief bit from Exodus 19 about that event:

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

I can't help but compare this to the circumstances in Acts, chapter 2, the day of Pentecost. That of course, fell on shavuot. Pentecost refers to the 50 days after Passover, and for Christians, it is the 50th day after Easter.

 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Is it a coincidence that the Lord descended on Sinai in fire, and the Spirit descended in fire upon the disciples? Personally I think not. 

Sinai represents God's first description and full explanation of what it meant to be his chosen ones. It was through the law that he set a particular group of people apart for himself. Pentecost represents a change in how people were to relate to Heaven. First, it opened things up very broadly. Now all the nations were to come to God. Actually, it was the job of the people of Israel to bring the nations to God, but they weren't exactly spectacular successes at that.

At Pentecost, things change. Before, the law was the means by which people approached the Almighty. Now the Almighty finally and completely approached the people. Before, the people were separated away from God. They were on the plain, God was on the mountain. Now God lifts us all to the mountain. The flames are for everyone. The Spirit is to live in us all. This Spirit is true life. It is our connection to the Author of Life.

May this Pentecost reignite any flame that may have grown weak, wavering and dim. I know that God does not judge us when our flames waver:

"A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3 NASB)

Have you ever felt like a dim wick? The NIV renders this a smoldering wick. It's all the same thing, we just aren't burning brightly. Yet this verse from Isaiah tells us about God's character, that Heaven will not just blow us out like a useless candle. God will strengthen us, comfort us, even goad us when necessary to brighten up that flame. This is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Chris Rice has a most wonderful song, Go Light Your World. I commend it to you:

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold

There is a Spirit who brings a fire

Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the helpless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to

Light his own candle some other way

See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to

Still holds a candle without a flame

So carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause we are a family whose hearts are blazing

So let's raise our candles and light up the sky

Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus

Make us a beacon in darkest times.

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, deceived and poor

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world.

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world.

Sometimes I have been the frustrated brother trying to go my own way. Other times I have been the sister, robbed and lied to. My wick is dim, smoky and smoldering. But the fact is, the light isn't truly my own. It is the light of Jesus, shining through me. Even a dim lamp sheds some light.

So carry your candle. Let the light of Jesus shine on others, even when you are struggling to see it for yourself. Carry your candle. Run to the darkness. That is where the light works best. Light's purpose is to overcome darkness.

If your light is shining brightly, GREAT! Carry your candle. Go. Run. Run to the darkness.

May you experience a powerful Pentecost, and

Go Light Your World!