Keep your Lamp Burning

A friend of mine had just returned from a ladies christian retreat.  I marveled as she passionately shared her experience, her eyes burning with zeal.  “I feel so refreshed and renewed!”, “It’s not enough to have these retreats just once a year!”, she exclaimed. 

Her faith was definitely reignited and her heart was burning for God.  Clearly she had an encounter with Jesus.  

I noticed the Bible frequently refers to our faith as a burning lamp.  Every time we have an encounter with Jesus, we reignite or refuel our lamps with oil.  Continually seeking his presence keeps our faith flame from burning out.  The psalmist claims…

You, LORD, keep my lamp burning... (Ps.18:28 NIV)

When we don’t continue to seek his presence, our faith begins to simmer down. Instead of faith we begin to experience fear and doubt.  

…the lamp ... is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow….Terrors frighten him on every side…His strength is depleted…He is driven from light into darkness… (Job 18:5-17 BSB)

John the Baptist of the NT is a great example.  At the prime of his ministry Jesus refers to his faith as…

He was the lamp that was burning and shining,….(John 5:35 NASB)

But then came a season when John was imprisoned.  His circumstances had caused his flame to die down to a simmer.  Full of doubt and desperation, he sends messengers to Jesus… 

“Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”....(Matt. 11:2 BSB)

But Jesus was not at all offended by his doubt.  He urges the messengers to return to John…

Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (vs.4-5 KJV)

Notice, “show John again”.  Jesus essentially states, “Please remind John of all that's presently happening.  Give him a testimony of what you have seen and heard.  Reignite his faith in me again!” 

… the lamp that flickers he shall not extinguish…(Is. 42:3 ABPE)

Friend, if you are presently experiencing fear or doubt, your faith flame has likely gone down to a simmer.  You need a fresh encounter with Jesus.  You don't necessarily need to await a yearly retreat to experience him.  He promises to reveal himself to those that wholeheartedly seek him.  

Supporting Text 

...You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Je. 29:13)

...and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet...(Re. 1:13)