Keep Shining

Leviticus 24:2

Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually

This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine, all in my home, all in the sinners face, everywhere I go I’m going to let it shine.

Dr. King once said, “Instead of cursing the darkness light a candle.” It’s important that during these dark times that we who have the light of Christ keep shining to break up the darkness. Somebody somewhere needs your light.

There is a Duracell battery commercial that shows people in the dark at crucial times. One mother hears something in the garage and she goes out in the dark and turns on her flashlight only to get a glimpse of a possum when the flashlight goes dark and all you see is red eyes in the dark. Yikes! There are others like her that attempt to turn on the light with dead batteries. You don’t want to have a moment where you need light and don’t have it.

To make sure you have light when you need it, you need to make sure you keep shining. The Israelites were commanded by God to keep their lamps in the temple burning continually. The lamps represented the presence of God with the people and the witness of the people to his presence. You only keep the light on if you’re expecting someone. We keep our light of witness because we are expecting the return of Christ and to give light to the people in the dark who are searching for him. The Israelites were commanded by God to keep their lamps lit and shining by:

1. Bringing Clear Oil. Our witness has to be clear so people can see God through us. Our hearts have to be pure.

a. We always need to make sure our motives are pure.

b. We need to make sure we are consecrated.

c. We need to make sure there is nothing in us that interferes with our fire
burning.

2. Using pressed Olives. The way that the Israelites were to get olive oil was that they had to put Olives in an olive press. When Jesus prayed before he was crucified he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane which is translated Oil Press. God was about to press the oil out of Jesus through his crucifixion. Sometimes in order to get pure oil out of us God has to allow us to be pressed.

3. We must continually let our light shine. We must have a consistent witness especially in dark places and dark times. Don’t fade out when God needs you lit up.

Dear God,

Help us to keep our lights shining during these dark times. Keep our hearts pure so that our witness might not be contaminated and burn out before Christ returns. Father, keep our hearts aflame with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for not letting my fire go out!

In Jesus Name,
Amen