Notes of Faith April 9, 2025
Light of the World
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:20
The first few verses of the Gospel of John mirror the beginning of Genesis 1—the entrance of light into a dark world (Genesis 1:3; John 1:4-5). Jesus identified Himself as the Light of the World (John 8:12) but only while He was in the world (John 9:5). Preparing His followers, Jesus said that they would be the light of the world in His absence (Matthew 5:14-16).
This was reaffirmed in the vision John saw on the isle of Patmos. Part of that vision was Christ standing in the midst of seven lampstands—sources of light (Revelation 1:12-13). In His words to John, Christ identified the lampstands as seven churches in Asia Minor, representing all the churches that were and that were to come. The implication of picturing the Church as a lampstand is obvious: The Church is to be the light of the world until Christ returns.
Reflect Christ’s light today by saying a kind word to a stranger or meeting the need of a neighbor.
The light of a holy example is the gospel’s main argument.
R. L. Dabney
Being the light of the world is difficult while still carrying a sin nature. Human beings will do and say things that are not holy, do not build up, encourage, or seek the kingdom of God simply because of that nature within. Still, we must fight against those sinful urges and seek to bless and continue to reach and teach the people that God places around us of the truth of who He is, the truth of His Word, and strive to be the people that God has called and chosen us to be. The churches of Revelation had issues because they all carried that sin nature too. Today, the church suffers with the same problem. Seek Christ Jesus and His kingdom and all other things will fall into place. May you be overwhelmingly blessed as you seek to do His will.
Pastor Dale