Light of our Lives

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

-- Isaiah 9:2

We are those people who once were in darkness but now have received the light of our Lord. Through his Spirit filled and saving word he has scattered the darkness of our sins, promising us eternal life. Recently a Lutheran pastor from Missouri contacted me asking permission to reprint a newsletter article I had written some years ago on what is sometimes called the eternal light. Somehow he found it on line and told me he felt that his church which had recently installed a new sanctuary lamp might find the article helpful in instructing them on the meaning of the light. Below is a reprint of that article for this Epiphany season. May the candlelight we enjoy remind us of Jesus Christ, the Light of our World!

Pastor

Eternal Light

You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel. Exodus 27:20-21

“Light in worship has always had meaning for God’s people. The sanctuary lights are lit

whenever God’s people gather. Light in worship has always had meaning for the faithful. From Old Testament times when the Lord commanded that a lamp be regularly set up to burn, then on into the early church. Our sanctuary at night glows with the red warmth of the “eternal light,” a candle also called a chancel lamp that is burned regularly in many churches. No matter the

darkness of the sanctuary it still shines on and on until we gather again beneath its flickering light! I’ve always appreciated its beauty but more than that, its meaning.

In worship candlelight not only brings warmth and beauty to our gathering but this candle that is never extinguished represents prayer and the presence of our Savior. In one ancient collect we pray, “We ask you to lighten the darkness of our hearts by your gracious visitation…” Jesus’ visitation of grace for our world and our lives scatters the thick darkness of sin around us. Peter describes our lives of faith as being called out of darkness into his marvelous light. This is a daily event that the Lord accomplishes in all our lives of faith.

So, as we gather to celebrate the light of Christ we receive his word, which is a lamp unto our feet and light to our path. No matter the darkness of this world or the darkness of our own lives our Lord’s light of salvation still shines for us, burning ever so brightly until the day we finally bask in his eternal light to come!”