Light
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Ps 119:105
At the first flickering of the lights, we instinctively began to round up all the candles and some matches. Sure enough, the next round of lightning with its accompanying thunder, that was close enough to shake the house, caused the power to quit flowing and the house went dark. Immediately, the matches were struck and the candles were lit. It truly is an amazing atmosphere when the only light available is candlelight. There was a warm glow, dancing shadows, and sense of uneasy yet appealing nostalgia as we 21st century technology dependent individuals were sent back to a bygone era. None of us could simply run up the stairs or into the next room. We had to take a candle with us or we couldn't see our feet or what they were about step on or trip over. The candlelight was good for one step at a time.
The Psalmist who wrote this very famous line lived in a world of oil lamps. The every single day experience of needing and carrying a lamp provided a powerful picture for all who read this Psalm of the imperativeness of the word of God. Physically, they could not take a step forward unless they had a lamp without the possibility of getting into serious trouble. The Psalmist clearly and eloquently expressed that without God's word to guide us, we would be in serious trouble in every arena of life.
The question begs to be asked. Who or what is the lamp to our feet, the light to our path? Is it the latest public opinion poll? Our feelings? Our family and friends? The media? Academia? ... Jesus spoke of the blind leading the blind. It didn't work out well for them, nor will it work out well for us. Unlike oil lamps, the word of God will never have a replacement. It is alive and will never pass away. Just think about all of the falls that we could have avoided if we had followed the word of God. Better yet, think of all the falls in the future that we will avoid should we choose today to follow his word ... one step at a time.
Grace and Peace,
Tom
At the first flickering of the lights, we instinctively began to round up all the candles and some matches. Sure enough, the next round of lightning with its accompanying thunder, that was close enough to shake the house, caused the power to quit flowing and the house went dark. Immediately, the matches were struck and the candles were lit. It truly is an amazing atmosphere when the only light available is candlelight. There was a warm glow, dancing shadows, and sense of uneasy yet appealing nostalgia as we 21st century technology dependent individuals were sent back to a bygone era. None of us could simply run up the stairs or into the next room. We had to take a candle with us or we couldn't see our feet or what they were about step on or trip over. The candlelight was good for one step at a time.
The Psalmist who wrote this very famous line lived in a world of oil lamps. The every single day experience of needing and carrying a lamp provided a powerful picture for all who read this Psalm of the imperativeness of the word of God. Physically, they could not take a step forward unless they had a lamp without the possibility of getting into serious trouble. The Psalmist clearly and eloquently expressed that without God's word to guide us, we would be in serious trouble in every arena of life.
The question begs to be asked. Who or what is the lamp to our feet, the light to our path? Is it the latest public opinion poll? Our feelings? Our family and friends? The media? Academia? ... Jesus spoke of the blind leading the blind. It didn't work out well for them, nor will it work out well for us. Unlike oil lamps, the word of God will never have a replacement. It is alive and will never pass away. Just think about all of the falls that we could have avoided if we had followed the word of God. Better yet, think of all the falls in the future that we will avoid should we choose today to follow his word ... one step at a time.
Grace and Peace,
Tom
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