Monday, January 01, 2001

“The Parable Of The Candles”

(What Kind Are You?)

(Transcript of CD#68)

I received this through my email, I don’t know who the author is, but it touched my heart. As I read this I felt lead to put together a Bible study concerning these candles which represent you and me: Christians!

There was a blackout one dark night. When the lights went out, I fumbled to the closet. I knew that in my closet there were some candles made just for a dark night. I lit four of the candles breathing a sigh of relief. I was turning to leave the closet with the largest candle in my hand when I heard a voice,

“Now, hold it right there.” I asked, “Who said that?”

“I did!” said the large candle. The voice was near my hand.

“Who are you, what are you”, I asked?

“I’m a candle.”

I lifted up the candle to take a closer look. There was a tiny face in the wax, saying “don’t take me out of here”! “What”, I asked?

“You heard me, don’t take me out of this room!”

“What do you mean candle, I have to take you out of this room. You are a candle, it’s your job to give light in a darken place.”

The candle said, “Yes it is dark out there, but you can’t take me out.” The candle explained, “I need more preparation.”

I could not believe my ears, more preparation?

“Yeah I have decided I need to research this job of light-giving so I won’t go out and make a bunch of mistakes. I’m just not ready at this time in my life as a candle! You would be surprised how distorted the glow of an untrained candle can be…”

“All right then,” I said. “Your not the only candle on the shelf in the closet. I’ll blow you out and take one of the others.”

But right then I heard other voices, “We aren’t going either!”

I turned to the other candles and said, “You are candles and your job is to light dark places.”

“Well, that may be what you think”, said the first one, “You may think we have to go, but I’m busy… I’m mediating on the importance of light, it’s really enlightening.”

“And you other two”, I asked, “are you going to stay to?”

A short, fat purple candle with plump cheeks spoke up, “I’m waiting to get my life together, I’m not stable enough.”

The last candle had a very beautiful voice, pleasant to the ear.” I’d like to help, really I would,” she explained, “but lighting the darkness is not my gift… I am a singer. I sing to other candles to encourage them to burn more brightly.” She began a rendition of  “ This Little Light of Mine”. The other three candles joined in, filling the closet with singing…

I took a step back and considered the absurdity of all that had happened. Four perfectly healthy candles singing to each other about light but refusing to come out of the closet. Here is a question for you, when was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone? This world is full of darkness, with many people stumbling around trying to find their way. You can be a light for them, be just as faithful to the Lord as He is to you!

If you noticed the first candle offered an excuse of saying: “I need more preparation.” Yes, as Christ’s representatives we need to be prepared! But we can’t let that be an excuse to keep us from fulfilling His Great Commission. I want to document from God’s Word that He has made us for “His good works”. Turn to the book of Ephesians:

• Eph.2:1 says, “And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

Our Father considered us before salvation, walking dead men(no gender). But praise be to God we are alive now, renewed in life!

• Eph.2:2-3 says, “Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

There is not one of us that is better than another. We are all in the same boat without Christ Jesus as our Savior!

• Eph.2:4-7 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

If we could only get into our minds just how much our Father loves us! He changed His whole plan just so we could have an opportunity for His salvation! I just wanted to cover these verses to keep everything in proper context. Remember we’re looking at the fact we are ordained for good works. We don’t want to be like those candles and be without good works for Christ.

• Eph.2:8-10 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not that of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We’re now “prepared” by our Lord, ordained to walk in good works. All we can do is be faithful with what talents He has given us to use for His glory (see Matt.25:14-30)! We are now His workmanship, God Almighty’s! This word workmanship is translated from the Greek word: poiema. Poiema means a product, i.e. fabric. The old man, the old creation was of the flesh, but this new man can do all things through Christ Jesus with His strength (see Ph.4:19 for documentation). This new man was fabricated in Christ’s sacrifice for us on the Cross.   Q. Why we’re we created anew? A. Unto good works: ergon in the Greek meaning to: work as an occupation, labor. God our Father has ordained us to walk in His works, edifying the Body of Christ! This word ordained is from the Greek word:proetoimazo meaning to prepare or fit up in advance. In other words our Father has made the way for us to work for Him. We are only to be “willing vessels” walking in faith. We can’t afford to be like that first candle. Our Father has prepared us if we have faith in His Word. Let’s document from God’s Word that we are this new creation: turn to 2 Corinthians.

• 2 Cor.5:14-15 says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.”

You and I believe that Christ Jesus died not only for us, rather for all who would believe. We see that our Lord crucified His flesh and done His Father’s will and entered “Heaven”. So in turn we should die unto ourselves and live from this point forward for our Lord and Savior!

• 2 Cor.5:16-17 says, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The old man would not been able to shine light into a darkened world and lift up Christ. Praise God at salvation the “old man” has passed away! Now the new man can be a willing vessel letting the Lord use him for His glory! Our Lord did not save us just to keep us from eternal damnation but rather to use us to fulfill His Great Commission. Let’s continue and we’ll understand:

• 2 Cor.5:18-19 says, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

You see the wages of sin are death (see Romans 6:23) but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. WE had a death sentence upon us, but our Lord Jesus Christ died in our place. If we are truly thankful for that gift of life instead of death then we’ll do our part, our part in God’s ministry of reconciliation. Once again I feel the need to stress: be faithful to your part, ability. God Almighty made each one of us different for His reasons. You be you, and I will be me in Christ Jesus! That’s all that Christ Jesus requires from us: faithfulness.

• 2 Cor.5:20 says, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Q. What is an ambassador’s job? A. We have different ambassadors for the U.S. and it’s their job to represent us in the foreign land. As Christians we are Christ’s representatives here in this foreign land. What kind of job are we doing? Would we be fired or rehired?   The next thing that first candle said was,” I don’t want to make a bunch of mistakes”.   Q. What if Jesus Christ had said, “I can’t leave my home and go to the Cross, I might make a mistake”! A. We must have a willing heart, if our heart is right our Lord will bless our actions and lead us by the unction of the Holy Spirit. Memorize 1 John 2:20 please. God Almighty will make away if we have faith and let Him work in our lives. The Lord Jesus Christ was the only One who was perfect, we will make mistakes. WE just can’t let pride keep us from trying to serve our Lord.   Let’s now deal with the third excuse the candle presented: “I’m not ready.”

• 2 Timothy 4:1-2 says, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

(Just a note we have a special study: tape #33 from this verse of scripture entitled Reprove, Rebuke and Exhort).   Q. Where would you be today if someone had not been faithful in this ministry of reconciliation? A. LOST!!! Lost and the sad thing is you would not even realize it. You and I are to spread God’s Word in our own way, our own God given talents. This word preach was translated from the Greek word: kerusso. Kerusso means to herald as a public crier the divine truth, the Gospel.   Q. When are we to bring forth the Word of God? A. Be instant in season and out of season. This means bring forth the Word when it’s well timed or convenient or when it’s inopportunely or not convenient. That gets on my toes just a little. You mean if I’m relaxing on my weekend and the unction of the Holy Spirit touches me I must react? How about, if I don’t feel ready in my flesh mind, then too? Yes, when we are faithful and put God first there is a peace of mind that cannot be explained!   The forth excuse was: “I’m busy”. Let’s deal with that one right now; turn to the Gospel of Luke.

• Luke 14:16-24 says, “Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought 5 yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto his servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”

It was customary of the times to send out two invitations. You and I now have the Old Testament and the New Testament as our invitations. The supper is prepared: Are you too busy? Study Revelation 19:6-9 for more on this great feast. Please don’t read over these scriptures; let them sink into your mind. We can’t put anything (possessions, jobs, and families) ahead of the Lord in our lives! Each day whither we realize it or not we make a decision as to who we will serve that day.

• Luke 14:26-27,33 says, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

We need to understand this Greek word miseo that our English word hate was translated from: it means to love less. In other words we must love our Lord more than anything or anyone else. Jesus Christ our Lord has already carried His cross now it’s our turn. He laid out the path it’s our job to listen to that unction of His Holy Spirit and follow Him. This verse 33 seems like a hard teaching on the outside. All this verse is relaying to us is that Jesus Christ must come first. We must put our faith in Him, not possessions, prestige, money ETC…. This life is very temporal and we’re working for the eternity. Our Lord will never ask us to give up something without replaces it with something greater (see Matt.19:27-29). Let’s move on to the fifth excuse the candles: “I’m meditating”. Turn to the book of Psalms please.

• Ps. 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he mediate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Q. How many times have you heard someone say: “why I can’t I ever be happy”? A. More times than I can even remember. This word blessed from the Hebrew means “how happy”. If we want true happiness; which really is joy from the inside out in this case; then follow after the Lord!   WE must be careful whom we choose as our close friends. Why? Because they have a strong influence upon our lives. See 1 Cor.15:33 for documentation. From verse 2&3 here we see that it’s great to mediate on the Law like the candle. After we have the Word in our heart, we must let it cause a reaction in our lives. Notice there from verse #3 what the Psalmist did: He brought forth “his fruit” in “his season”! I don’t have to measure up to you or you don’t have to measure up to me! We only have to be faithful to where we are at in our Lord and His Word! We know that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. So we must hear the Word and then work it, because faith without works is dead(see James 2:14-26). The next excuse of the candles was: “I’m waiting to get my life together, I’m not stable enough”. For those who might use this excuse let’s address that issue now.   Please study in your home study time the following verses: John 4:1-42. We don’t have the space or the time to cover them all here in this study. I will just give a paraphrased version, but you please study for yourselves. You could not get much more unstable than this lady had been. She had 5 previous husbands and she was living with another man. All of that doesn’t matter because after she heard the truth from Jesus Christ she reacted. She put her faith in Him to the point that she shared Christ with others. Look at verse 39 it says that many Samaritans of that city believed on Jesus Christ because of the woman’s testimony! We must put ourselves in her place and realize how hard it was for her to bring forth that testimony. This lady had no respect from the people, she was trash(according to the so-called religious). Jesus looked past her faults and seen someone who would work her faith. Jesus Christ saw the inside, her soul, and not the outside. This lady just simply believed and reacted to what she was taught. Let’s follow our Lord and not rationalize ourselves as like these candles did out of their lack of faith. The last excuse of the female singing candle was: “lighting the darkness is not my gift, I’m a singer.”  The whole point of this study has to been to encourage us to use what talents our Lord has given us. It has been to show that we are to keep our eyes on the Lord and not each other. But as we all differ in our personalities and talents we all have one command in common. Turn to the Gospel of Matthew:

• Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Here we have our Lord Jesus Christ getting ready to ascend back into heaven. His last words to us are a commandment. A commandment to go into all of “our world” teaching them the Word of God. This is the Great Commission that we are to fulfill for the One who died for us. In the previous missions that Christ had sent His disciples on, they were only to go to the Jews. But now the mission was to go into all of the whole earth for Christ died for all! This is not an option but a command if your one of Jesus Christ’s disciples, apostles. Let’s finish this study with some Words from our Lord about giving light like the candles were supposed to give light.

• Matthew 5:14-16 says, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

• John 9:5 says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus Christ finished His mission here on earth and now has ascended into heaven. He could have chosen anyway to lead His flock to salvation but He chooses you. You are a willing vessel in which His light can shine through so His children can be saved. What a privilege we have to work for the One who died for us! Let’s come out of the closet and let the Lord’s light shine through us as best we can daily. Praise the Lord for this opportunity. Please pray about this study and see where you stand in the Lord’s will. Remember He said He would never leave you nor forsake you, have faith.

“Remember GOD’s WORD will change your life!”

GAP Ministries