June 17.
Check Your Light

Matthew 25:4

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The virgins took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

Now it is believed that these were not actual lamps, but that they were torches. These were merely torches that would keep a light on the path for the bride and groom to walk down the hallway on their way to the altar. If these lights were not lit, then the wedding would have to be postponed. You see God anticipates every one of us having a light. Before God did anything with creation, He took care to get the light straight first. Before he made the trees, before he allowed the birds to fly, the fish to swim, the beast to roam or man to live, God said, “Let there be light.” And He liked light because God is light himself. Not only is he light, his Son is the light of the world. And all those who follow him are lights.

Let your light. This means your light should shine privately. It’s your light. Your light should shine and shine. In other words, the folk around you need to know you know the Lord. You shouldn’t have to walk around with a cross around your neck to let folk know you’re born again. You shouldn’t have to walk around with a Bible under your arm for folk to know you have been with the Lord. It ought to be in your light. Lights don’t have to have any advertising. No, lights don’t have to walk up and say, “I’m a light.” Anything and anybody knows it’s a light. It is its own advertiser. A light does its work without keeping up any noise. No, a light doesn’t have to holler, but a light will do its own work by itself. Many of us are lights but sometimes we get our lights mixed up. Instead of being headlights, we’re tail-lights. The world is the tail, we are the head. Clearly, we shouldn’t follow the world; the world should follow us. Most of us look for the lights of other folks, but we never check our own lights. Is your light on and shining for those around?