October 16^th

A LIGHTED CANDLE

LUKE 11:33  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

     In this parable, Jesus reveals a glorious truth about believers who have been lighted by Himself.  The candle is symbolic of the believer.  Once lighted, the believer is not placed in a secret place.  The term secret place is only used here in the New Covenant.  It means crypt or that which is hidden or concealed.  Jesus commanded, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven _Matthew 5:16."

     The lighted candle, a symbol of the believer in whom Christ dwells, is not put under a bushel either.  The key here is that a bushel speaks of a certain measure.  There are countless denominations and factions today because people put their light under a bushel or certain measure that came short of the fullness of Christ’s Stature.   Ephesians 4:13 reads, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."  Further, concerning our Lord, John 3:34 states, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him]."  

     The lighted believer is rather placed on a Candlestick which represents the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of His Church.  The Old Covenant teaches that the Candlestick was in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. We are joined to Him as One Spirit that they which come in may see the light.  Just as the Candlestick had many branches but was only one light, so are we in union with Christ.